INFLUENCE OF FERTILISATION ON THE PRODUCTION AND VITAMIN C AND SUGAR CONTENT OF “CHERRY” TOMATOES

One “Cherry” Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivar was grown on two organic and one inorganic media to study the incidence of fertilisation on the production (yield) and quality (Vitamin C and sugar content) of fruit.
The cv. “Sunny” was grown in an unheated glasshouse.
Three fertilisation treatments were applied: a) organic on vermicompost (organic substrate) irrigated with water, b) mixed on peat- redraft (sediment of river)- vermicompost (organic substrates) irrigated with Weihenstephan´s complete nutrient solution and c) hydroponic or inorganic on purified sand (inert substrate) irrigated with Sachs complete nutrient solution.
Fruits were harvested at physiological maturity.
Yeld: total weight and number of fruits per plant and quality: mean and maximum weight, vitamin C (AOAC) and sugars (soluble solids, ºBrix) were determined.
There were significant differences (LSD, p< 0.05) for the production.
Total weight was larger in fruits grown with organic fertilisation with regard to hydroponic and mixed fertilisation. vermicompost and hydroponic plants presented a larger number of fruits with regard to mixed fertilisation.
There were no significant differences for quality: for mean and maximum weight.
Vitamin C content was higher in plants with organic and mixed fertilisation while the level of sugars was significantly higher for the mixed treatment.

V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies

Z. Premuzic, A. de los Ríos, M. Clozza, F. Vilella, E. Mirabelli, C. Accorinti

ascorbic, hydroponic, Lycopersicon esculentum, nutrient – solution, organic, soluble-solids

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.559.88