The effects of CaCl2 on fruit yield, quality and nutrient contents of tomato under NaCl stress conditions

Abstract

In this study, the effects of CaCl2 on fruit yield, quality Ca/Na and K/Na ratios and Na content of tomato leaves under NaCl stress conditions were determined. The doses of 0, 6.8 and 16.8 mM CaCl2 were combined with the doses of 0, 44.4, 70.4 mM NaCl in complete nutrient solution. General, NaCl and CaCl2 decreased fruit yield, NaCl decreased stem amount, whereas it increased at 6.8 mM CaCl2. CaCl2 decreased fruit yield without NaCl, but it increased fruit yield significantly at 44.4 mM dose and caused tolerance to NaCl. The 6.8 mM dose of CaCl2 increased stem amount without NaCl. However, CaCl2 did not cause tolerance at high doses of NaCl in terms of growth. CaCl2 decreased brix of fruit, while NaCl increased it. CaCl2 increased brix without NaCl, but decreased it at 44.4 and 70.4 mM NaCl. CaCl2 and NaCl decreased fruit juice pH significantly. Besides, CaCl2 decreased fruit juice pH at 0 and 44.4 mM of NaCl. The number of fruits which were found to have blossom-end rot (NFBER) did not change without NaCl with the influence of CaCl2. However, CaCl2 applied at high doses of NaCl decreased the NFBER and provided tolerance to NaCl. Increasing dose of NaCl increased significantly the Na content in leaves, but the addition CaCl2 decreased significantly the Na content in leaves. Increasing the dose of CaCl2 applications at 0 and 44.4 mM NaCl levels increased the Ca/Na ratio in tomato leaves. But, the effect of CaCl2 on Ca/Na ratio of leaves was statistically insignificant. The addition of NaCl into the solution nutrient decreased the Ca/Na and K/Na ratios in tomato leaves. The effect of CaCl2 on the K/Na ratio of leaves was not found significant.

Keywords

• Tomato
• NaCl stress
• tolerance
• CaCl2
• yield
• quality
• Ca/Na
• K/Na ratios