THE INFLUENCE OF SOLAR RADIATION AND BORON-CALCIUM FRUIT APPLICATION ON CUTICLE CRACKING OF A WINTER TOMATO CROP GROWN UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING

In order to compare the influence of solar radiation on tomato cuticle cracking (CC) of a winter (seedling in June/July, supplemental lighting) and spring (seedling in November/December) tomato crops, experiments were conducted at three commercial greenhouses located in the province of Quebec, Canada (lat. 47^oN, long. 71^oW). Experiments were also conducted during the summer of 1999 and 2000 to evaluate the effect of boron (B) and/or calcium (Ca) spray treatments on CC. We observed a positive correlation between solar radiation and CC severity for a winter tomato crop production suggesting that fruit produced under a winter schedule are more susceptible to severe CC at summer time than tomato grown under a spring schedule.
Boron (3.33 g L^-1 Borax, 15% B) and Ca (CaCl2 6.66 g L^-1, 27% Ca) application on tomato fruit led to a significant 11% to 15% decrease in CC incidence and to a 47% decrease in severity in 1999 (P ≤0.05) and 66% (P ≤0.05) in 2000. Our results suggest that CC severity is related to solar radiation and can be greatly reduced by weekly B+Ca application on leaves and tomato fruits older than 40 days.

IV International ISHS Symposium on Artificial Lighting

F. Jobin-Lawler, K. Simard, A. Gosselin, A.P. Papadopoulos

cracking, fruit quality, Lycopersicon esculentum, micronutrient, russeting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.580.31