737 PB 035 l-UN TOMATO PLANTS TREATED WITH EDTA DO NOT PRODUCE FRUITS THAT TURN RED

Abstract

It has been reported that 90-day old fruit of rin mutant tomato plants treated with nutrient solution containing 1 g EDTA/L attain 98% red coloration of untreated wild-type fruit. We grew rin plants in sand and watered with half-strength Hoagland's solution until flowering. After flowering, plants were watered until run-off daily with full-strength Hoagland's solution (control), full-strength Hoagland's solution with 135 μ M or 2.5 mM Na2EDTA, or full-strength Hoagland's solution lacking calcium. We did not observe any red fruit or measure any differences in ethylene production or soluble polyuronides content. Analyses of pericarp ion content indicated that fruit from plants treated with 2.5 mM Na2EDTA had higher concentrations of sodium and manganese than control fruit. Fruit from plants treated with solution lacking calcium developed blossom end rot and had less calcium and iron than control fruit.