Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Foliar potassium and zinc stimulates tomato growth, yield and enzymes activity to tolerate water stress in soilless culture

Author(s):

Mohamed E. Abdelaziz ¹*, Sahar S. Taha ¹

Recieved Date: 2018-01-03, Accepted Date: 2018-03-20

Abstract:

Two greenhouse experiments have been conducted to evaluate the ability of foliar supplementary application of K (2 mg l^-1 of K₂O), Zn (0.5 mg l^-1 of ZnO) and their combination to increase tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. ‘Strain B’) tolerance for water stress in soilless culture. Plants were exposed to two irrigation levels including well-water and water stress (50% of field capacity). Data indicate that spraying of K or/and Zn increased plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and dry weight of tomato with both irrigation levels. Furthermore, significant reductions in photosynthetic parameters were recorded in leaves of water stressed tomato. Supplementary spraying of K and Zn enhanced relative chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and reduced transpiration rate of those stressed plants. Comparing to control, higher significant increase of catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbic peroxidase (78.9%, 88.9% and 42%) were detected in leaves of tomato exposed to water stress and sprayed with a combined K and Zn treatment. Therefore, spraying water stress plants with K and Zn showed significant improvement in vitamin C, total soluble solids, fruit weight and yield components. These favorable effects of foliar K and Zn on growth performance, photosynthesis and antioxidant defense enzymes could play major role to increase tomato tolerance to water stress.

Keywords:

Foliar spray, potassium, Solanum lycopersicum, water stress, zinc

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2018
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 113-118

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