Tomato fruit quality as infuenced by salinity and nitric oxide

Abstract

Te impact of salinity (measured by adding 100 mM of NaCl to the nutrient solution) and spraying with sodium nitroprusside(10 µM of SNP, NO source) on fruit quality of tomato (Super Strain B) plants grown under feld conditions was studied. Irrigation withsalinised nutrient solution alone resulted in a signifcant suppression in fruit fresh and dry biomass, length, diameter, and volume aswell as β-carotene and lycopene contents. Tis decrease was accompanied by a signifcant increase in Na accumulation, total alkaloids,and antioxidants, including total phenolics and favonoids, and reduced ascorbic acid (ASA) content. Similar to total phenolics andfavonoids, the content of some individual phenolic acids such as protocatechuic, vanillic, chlorogenic, ferulic, and sinapic acids were attheir high levels under saline conditions. Spraying the salinised plants with SNP improved tomato fruit quality to some extent in regardsto salinity impact. Under the studied salinity level there was an enhancement of health-promoting compounds (phenolic compounds,favonoids, and alkaloids) synthesis in tomato fruits, with signifcant changes in other quality parameters.