Tomato post-harvest durability and physicochemical quality depending on silicon sources and doses

Durabilidade pós-colheita e qualidade físico-química de frutos de tomateiro em resposta a doses e fontes de silício

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) sources and doses on the physicochemical quality as well as post-harvest conservation of tomato fruits. Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 5 factorial scheme corresponding to sources {calcium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate} and five doses of Si (equivalent to 0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 kg/ha SiO₂). Randomized blocks were the experimental design, with four replications. Soluble solids, vitamin C, lycopene, titratable acidity, mature fruit firmness, initial firmness, firmness half-life, time until reaching firmness equivalent to 3.0 x 10⁴ N/m² and 2.0 x 10⁴ N/m² and Si content in fruits were evaluated. Soluble solids, vitamin C and lycopene of fruits increased with increasing doses of Si, except for the highest dose. Calcium and sodium silicate provided the highest lycopene concentration in fruits. An increase in initial firmness, number of days until reaching firmness half-life and firmness equivalent to 3.0 and 2.0 x 10⁴ N/m² were observed along with increasing doses of Si. Tomato fertilization with calcium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate, used as sources of Si, increased the post-harvest conservation as well as the physicochemical quality of tomato.

Keywords:
Solanum lycopersicum; post-harvest conservation; silicates; bioactive compounds.