The effects of CaCl2 on fruit yield, quality and nutrient contents of tomato under NaCl stress conditions

Abstract

In this study, the effects of CaCl2 on fruit yield, quality Ca/Na and K/Na ratios and Nacontent of tomato leaves under NaCl stress conditions were determined. The doses of 0,6.8 and 16.8 mM CaCl2 were combined with the doses of 0, 44.4, 70.4 mM NaCl incomplete nutrient solution. General, NaCl and CaCl2 decreased fruit yield, NaCldecreased stem amount, whereas it increased at 6.8 mM CaCl2. CaCl2 decreased fruityield without NaCl, but it increased fruit yield significantly at 44.4 mM dose and causedtolerance to NaCl. The 6.8 mM dose of CaCl2 increased stem amount without NaCl.However, CaCl2 did not cause tolerance at high doses of NaCl in terms of growth. CaCl2decreased brix of fruit, while NaCl increased it. CaCl2 increased brix without NaCl, butdecreased it at 44.4 and 70.4 mM NaCl. CaCl2 and NaCl decreased fruit juice pHsignificantly. Besides, CaCl2 decreased fruit juice pH at 0 and 44.4 mM of NaCl. Thenumber of fruits which were found to have blossom-end rot (NFBER) did not changewithout NaCl with the influence of CaCl2. However, CaCl2 applied at high doses of NaCldecreased the NFBER and provided tolerance to NaCl. Increasing dose of NaClincreased significantly the Na content in leaves, but the addition CaCl2 decreasedsignificantly the Na content in leaves. Increasing the dose of CaCl2 applications at 0 and44.4 mM NaCl levels increased the Ca/Na ratio in tomato leaves. But, the effect of CaCl2on Ca/Na ratio of leaves was statistically insignificant. The addition of NaCl into thesolution nutrient decreased the Ca/Na and K/Na ratios in tomato leaves. The effect ofCaCl2 on the K/Na ratio of leaves was not found significant.