Response of Cherry Tomato to Irrigation Levels and Fruit Pruning under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the re sponse of cherry tomato cultivar Dulcito RZ to different irrigation levels and fruit pruning treatments. Treatments were three irrigation levels [50, 75, and 100%, based on the crop Evapotranspiration (ETc)], and three fruit pruning treatments (6, 8, and 10 fr uits truss -1 ). Results showed that the highest irrigation level (100% ETc) increased fruit weight and size, and total and marketable yield. However, water stress treatment ( 50% ETc) increased fruit quality traits (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, v itamin C, and total sugars). Plants pruned to 6 fruits truss -1 yielded a heavier and larger fruit size, while unp runed plants had smaller fruit size with a significant increase in total and marketable yield due to increased number of fruits plant -1 . The increased incidence of fruit cracking with lo wer fruit load (6 fruits truss -1 ) or with higher irrigation level (100% ETc) were r elated with the larger fruit size. The 50% ETc and full fruits truss -1 (zero fruit pruning) treatments caused the highest values of irrigation water use efficiency ( 25.6-25.8 and 29.9-30.4 kg m -3 , respectively). To maximize marketable yield of cher ry tomato and conserving irrigation water, it is recommended to apply 10 fruits truss -1 pruning treatment along with the medium irrigation water level (75% ETc) under green house conditions. Keywords: Fruit cracking, Irrigation water use efficiency, Ma rketable yield.