THE INTERACTION EFFECT OF POTASSIUM AND ENVIRONMENT ON TOMATO RIPENING DISORDERS

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Abstract
The influence of K nutrition on ripening disorders of greenhouse tomatoes was studied in experiments conducted in solution culture under various conditions of light intensity and humidity. The occurrence of blotch and vascular browning within the same fruits was attributed to injury of vascular tissue when K in the nutrient solution was replaced by Ca or Na but not by NH4. In a second experiment, adding Ca(NO3)2, rather than reducing the level of K, increased blotch. This nutrient effect occurred in low intensity winter light. Exposing the plants to supplementary light produced severe blotch regardless of the nutrient treatment. Iron supply had no effect. Shade and high humidity did not increase blotch. Other ripening disorders, subtle mosaic patterns of green and yellow color, white-wall tissue, and shoulder blotch, were attributed to low K supply, light injury, and possibly an interaction of the two.

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