Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment




Vol 1, Issue 2,2003
Online ISSN: 1459-0263
Print ISSN: 1459-0255


Application of diluted sea water to soilless culture of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.): Effects on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and antioxidant capacity


Author(s):

M. Lucia D’Amico 1*, Riccardo Izzo 1, Franco Tognoni 2, Alberto Pardossi 2, Flavia Navari-Izzo 1*

Recieved Date: 2003-01-08, Accepted Date: 2003-04-27

Abstract:

The aim of the present research was the evaluation of the effects of sea water irrigation on the antioxidant properties and qualitative characteristics of tomato. The berries of plants grown with 0, 10 and 20% of sea water, corresponding to conductivity values of 3, 8, 14 mS/cm, respectively, were harvested at two growth stages, green and red-ripe. Increasing water salinity resulted in reduced crop water consumption, plant growth, fruit and crop yield, whereas it caused an increase in fruit quality. Titrable acidity, osmotic pressure, concentration of sodium, sugars, organic acids increased upon irrigation with saline water, whereas K content increased only at 14 mS/cm EC. The antioxidant capability was evaluated by the analysis of reduced/oxidised ratios of the major antioxidants: the reduced pool of ascorbate suggested a favourable response of tomato fruits, and the determinant role of GSH in the behaviour of total glutathione content was pointed out. Finally, the trend of APX activity testified the increased requirement of active oxygen species scavenging under salinisation.

Keywords:

Antioxidants, fruit quality, Lycopersicon esculentum, sea water, soilless culture


Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2003
Volume: 1
Issue: 2
Category: Food and Health
Pages: 112-116


Full text for Subscribers
Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.


Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

Share this article :