The effect of boron levels in nutrient solutions on fruit production and quality of greenhouse tomatoes

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSmit J.N.
dc.contributor.authorCombrink N.J.J.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T15:55:03Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T15:55:03Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractInsufficient fruit set of tomatoes owing to poor pollination in low cost greenhouses is a problem in South Africa, as bumblebee pollinators may not be imported. Since sub-optimum boron (B) levels may also contribute to fruit set problems, this aspect was investigated. Greenhouse tomatoes were planted in acid-washed river sand. Four nutrient solutions with only B at different levels (0.02; 0.16; 0.32 and 0.64 mg l-1) were used. Leaf analyses indicated that the uptake of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and B increased with higher B levels. At the low B level, leaves were brittle and appeared pale-green and very high flower abscission percentages were found. Fruit lacked firmness at the low B level and this problem worsened during storage. At the 0.16 mg kg-1 B-level, fruit set, fruit development, colour, total soluble solids, firmness and shelf life seemed to be close to optimum. The highest B-level had no detrimental effect on any of the yield and quality related parameters. However, using 'Solubor' as a source of B, high levels decreased soluble Mn concentrations in nutrient solutions, probably owing to the precipitation of insoluble MnO2. This was reflected in reduced leaf-Mn concentrations.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationSouth African Journal of Plant and Soil
dc.identifier.citation21
dc.identifier.citation3
dc.identifier.issn2571862
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/9555
dc.subjectboron
dc.subjectfruit production
dc.subjectfruit set
dc.subjectgreenhouse ecosystem
dc.subjectnutrient limitation
dc.subjectpollination
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectEastern Hemisphere
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectSouthern Africa
dc.subjectSub-Saharan Africa
dc.subjectWorld
dc.subjectLycopersicon esculentum
dc.titleThe effect of boron levels in nutrient solutions on fruit production and quality of greenhouse tomatoes
dc.typeArticle
Files
Collections
Stellenbosch University - Scopus Publications