Tomato post-harvest durability and physicochemical quality depending on silicon sources and doses

Rafael GF Morales,Josué C Marodin,Marcos V Faria,Alex ST Figueiredo,Diego M Dias,Juliano TV Resende,Anderson R Trevisam

doi:10.1590/s0102-05362016003009

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) sources and doses on the physicochemical quality as well as post-harvest conservation of tomato fruits. Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 5 factorial scheme corresponding to sources {calcium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate} and five doses of Si (equivalent to 0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 kg/ha SiO2). Randomized blocks were the experimental design, with four replications. Soluble solids, vitamin C, lycopene, titratable acidity, mature fruit firmness, initial firmness, firmness half-life, time until reaching firmness equivalent to 3.0 x 104 N/m2 and 2.0 x 104 N/m2 and Si content in fruits were evaluated. Soluble solids, vitamin C and lycopene of fruits increased with increasing doses of Si, except for the highest dose. Calcium and sodium silicate provided the highest lycopene concentration in fruits. An increase in initial firmness, number of days until reaching firmness half-life and firmness equivalent to 3.0 and 2.0 x 104 N/m2 were observed along with increasing doses of Si. Tomato fertilization with calcium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate, used as sources of Si, increased the post-harvest conservation as well as the physicochemical quality of tomato.

Highlights

Durabilidade pós-colheita e qualidade físico-química de frutos de tomateiro em resposta a doses e fontes de silício
Foram realizadas as seguintes avaliações nos frutos: teor de sólidos solúveis, vitamina C, licopeno, acidez titulável, firmeza de fruto maduro, firmeza inicial, meia vida da firmeza, firmezas em 3,0 x 104 N/m2 e 2,0 x 104 N/m2 e concentração de Si nos frutos
The basic fertilization was calculated according to the soil analysis using urea, calcium nitrate, triple superphosphate and potassium chloride, totalizing 300 kg/ha N, 500 kg/ha K2O, 300 kg/ha P2O5 and 350 kg/ha Ca

Summary

Introduction

Durabilidade pós-colheita e qualidade físico-química de frutos de tomateiro em resposta a doses e fontes de silício. Houve um aumento na firmeza inicial, número de dias para alcançar a meia vida da firmeza, firmeza de 3,0 x 104 N/m2 e firmeza 2,0 x 104 N/m2 dos frutos em resposta ao aumento das doses de Si. Com base nesses resultados, pode-se concluir que a adubação do tomateiro com silicato de cálcio, potássio e sódio, usados como fontes de Si, aumentam a conservação pós-colheita e a qualidade físico-química de frutos do tomateiro. Silicon influences plant architecture by providing more erect leaves and improving solar radiation interception as well as photosynthetic efficiency (Pereira et al, 2003; Al-Aghabary et al, 2004). Silicon fertilization promotes an increase in fruit yield in the tomato crop (Marodin et al, 2014)

Objectives

Methods

Results