Application of Quitomax® on tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and evaluation of its effect in the yield and nutritional value

The need for a healthier diet with fewer agrochemicals requires the use of biostimulants such as Quitomax (R). In the present research, several Quitomax (R) concentrations applied on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) var. Floradade were evaluated on crop yield indicators and nutritional value of tomato fruits. Plants were achieved by planting seeds on trays contain Sogemix as commercial substrate when they reached 15 cm height they were trasplanting to 1 kg bag with Sogemix and sand. Treatments consist in foliar application of Quitomax (R) at 100, 200 y 300 mg.ha(-1) 20 y 25 day after transplanting. Crop yield indicators evaluated were number of flower clusters, in four phases: beginning of flowering, massive flowering, beginning of fruiting, massive fruiting. Additionally fruit numbers, fruit equatorial and polar diameters, fresh biomass, thickness of the mesocarp, number of chambers of the fruits were evaluated, as well as crop yield. In addition, protein content and the acidity percentage in the fruits were also evaluated. In general, the plants that received Quitomax (R) especially at the highest dose, 300 mg.ha(-1) had a higher number of flower clusters and better crop yield indicators than the control and the treatments with lower Quitomax (R) concentrations. Additionally resulting fruits from chitosan-treated- plants showed higher protein contents and less acidity which improve their nutritional values.