Effect of Intermittent Method of Deep Sea Water Treatment on Fruit Properties in Multi-Trusses Cultivation of Tomato

Abstract

Deep sea water (DSW), that has cold temperature, abundant nutrients, good quality and is pathogen-free, has been used for high quality tomato production. It had both advantageous and deleterious effects on tomato fruit properties. In this experiment, DSW treatment was applied both intermittently and continuously during fruit growth. The objective was to obtain an effective method for DSW treatment in multi-truss cultivation to obtain high quality tomatoes while minimizing any reduction of yield. The results of the study showed that in the intermittent treatment, a longer treatment interval (2WEC101WEC1) produced tomatoes with higher soluble solids concentration and higher acidity than shorter treatment interval (1WEC101WEC1). Intermittent treatments produced tomatoes larger than from the continue EC10 treatment but fruit density was lower. The enlargement of fruits from the intermittent treatment was greater than from the continue EC10 treatment - thus the volume of these intermittent treatment fruits were greater. Increasing dissolved oxygen in the nutrient solution could reduce blossom end rot in the tomatoes.