Effects of the Supplied Nitrogen Levels in Nutrient Solution on the Growth and Quality of Cherry Tomato Fruit

Abstract

The effects of the concentration of nitrogen(CN) in nutrient solution on the growth and quality of tomato fruit in a water culture were investigated. There were no clear differences of fruit weight for all of the CN treatments(4 types), although the fruit size in all treatments tended to gradually decrease as harvesting progressed. The soluble solid(SS) contents of the fruit that was grown in 50% CN solution (with respect to the standard solution) clearly increased during longer harvesting periods. On the other hand, the SS content changed slightly with a stronger CN solution. The level of acetic titratable acidity in the fruit under low CN treatments were lower than that of standard solution. Therefore, the sugar/acid ratio in the fruit with the 50% CN treatment rose dramatically. The fruit which had a high SS content also had a low Nitrogen content. There was no difference in the nitrogen content of the upper tomato leaves for all of the CN treatments.