Effect of irrigation on processing tomato yield and antioxidant components

Authors : Lajos HELYES, Andrea LUGASI, Zoltán PEK

Pages : 702-709

Doi:10.3906/sag-1207-12

View : 19 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2012-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :A 2-year insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2007 and 2008); open-field experiment was conducted to study the effects of irrigation on the yield parameters and main antioxidant components insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(lycopene, phenolic compounds, and ascorbic acid); of processing tomato. Two different treatments were applied: some plants were regularly irrigated, and some had their irrigation cut off 30 days before harvest. Both groups were compared with a rainfed control. Daily irrigation volume was calculated from the average daily temperature to reach optimum water supply. Fruits were harvested at the red-ripe maturity stage. The irrigated plants gave a significantly higher yield, and rainfed plants showed a yield loss. Irrigation had a greater effect on the average fruit weight than on fruit number. A seasonal effect was also remarkable, but was not as strong as that of irrigation. A better water supply caused a lower Brix number than that of the rainfed control. In both years, the antioxidant concentrations in tomato fruit showed a decrease with irrigation, except for the ascorbic acid content.
Keywords : Key words Antioxidant content, Brix, irrigation, tomato, yield