64 / 2016-04-27 12:29:59

Effects of salinity on tomato growth, yield and water use efficiency at different growth stages

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity stress at different growth (vegetative, flowering and fruiting) stages on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato under soilless cultivation. Experiment was carried out by using Hydroponic Power’s Pot with 6 different growth stages under the same salinity stress treatments, 3 pots (6 plants) in a completely randomized design in each treatment. Results showed that short-term (less than 21 days) salinity stress at any growth stage would not affect tomato growth and WUE. Salt-induce at fruiting stage can improve fruit quality. Salinity stress at flowering and fruiting stages caused tomato yield reduction, but at growth stage no affect to yield. Salinity stress at flowering until fruiting stage obtained the highest fruit quality, followed by stress at fruiting and flowering stages. Reduction of yield by salinity was due to the reduction of number of fruit rather than fruit size. Salinity stress at any stage of a truss would affect the yield and fruit quality of before and after truss.