Improvement in Production, Fruit Quality and Water Use Efficiency of Three Tomato Cultivars by Foliar Application of Tecamin Flower® Under Water Deficit Conditions

During drought, chemical elements in a fertilizer go into solution in the soil with difficulty and nutrients are less available to plants. Foliar fertilization with water soluble Tecamin flower (R), a product containing chemicals needed by plants, compensates for nutrient deficiency by roots due to water deficit. The study was undertaken to evaluate impacts of foliar application of Tecamin flower (R) at 0 or 2.5 ml/l and deficit irrigation (50 or 100% of field capacity) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cvs. Bobcat, Finenss and Hadeer. The results showed that 'Bobcat' cultivar produced the highest vitamin C content, fruit firmness and total yield. 'Finenss' had the highest total soluble solids and water use efficiency (WUE). 'Hadeer' had the highest titratable acidity and the lowest pH. Plants irrigated at a 50% rate produced the highest vitamin C content, total soluble solids, fruit firmness and the lowest pH. 100% irrigation resulted with the highest yield and WUE. The plant treated with 2.5 ml/l Tecamin flower (R) produced the highest vitamin C content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, fruit firmness, total yield, WUE and the lowest pH. Foliar application of Tecamin flower (R), regardless of cultivar, improved production, fruit quality and WUE of tomato under normal and water deficit conditions and played a role in alleviating the negative impact of water deficit.