Yield and physicochemical quality in experimental lines of Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme cultivated with different levels of electrical conductivity
María Teresa Martínez-Damian1, Juan Enrique Rodríguez-Pérez1, Oscar Cruz-Alvarez2*, y María Teresa Beryl Colinas-León1
ABSTRACT
The aim of this research was to evaluate the yield and physicochemical quality of the fruit in seven experimental lines of cherry tomato in response to three levels (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 dS m-1) of electrical conductivity (EC) of Steiner’s nutrient solution. The experimental design was completely randomized with six replicates. Yield, number of fruits per cluster (NFPC), average fruit weight (AFW), color, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C (VC), total phenols (TF), lycopene (Ly) and antioxidant capacity (AC) were evaluated. EC levels of 2.5 and 3.0 dS m-1 showed statistically the highest values of firmness (1.23 and 1.14 N mm-1), TSS (7.04 and 7.08 °Brix), TA (0.49 and 0.50% citric acid), VC (13.91 and 8.91 mg 100 g-1), Ly (9.17 and 10.75 mg 100 g-1) and AC (45.96 and 52.21 mm TEAC g-1). Among genotypes, H13-39 recorded the highest yield and AFW, with values of 9.47 kg m-2 and 38.35 g, respectively. Additionally, L-ChNg1 and L-ChNg2 presented the fruit with the highest firmness, while H13-26 had those with the highest TA and VC. With the exception of H13-39, L-ChNg1 and L-ChNg2, the rest of the genotypes were characterized by a high AC (55.53-60.60 mm TEAC g-1). However, H13-39 and L-ChNg1 had the highest Ly content.
The modification of the EC of Steiner’s nutrient solution kept the evaluated yield components unchanged, but it affected the physicochemical quality of the fruit among genotypes. This allowed identifying outstanding experimental lines with potential for commercial use.
Key words: cherry tomato, agronomic management, Steiner’s solution, lycopene, antioxidant capacity
1 Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Carretera México-Texcoco, Km. 38.5, CP 56230, Estado de México, México.
2 Facultad de Ciencias Agrotecnológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Avenida Pascual Orozco s/n, Campus 1, Santo Niño, CP 31350, Chihuahua, México.
* Autor de correspondencia E-mail: [email protected]