Stomata opening and productiveness response of fresh market tomato under different irrigation intervals

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae 2019-09, Vol.255, p.86-95
• Main Authors: Fara, Sorotori Jacob, Teixeira Delazari, Fábio, Silva Gomes, Ronaldo, Araújo, Wagner Luiz, da Silva, Derly José Henriques
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Irrigation interval; Open stomata; Photosynthetic efficiency; Productivity; Solanum lycopersicum
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2019.05.025

Stomata opening allow good productiveness response and enhance roots distribution of fresh market tomato under different irrigation intervals [Display omitted] •Lower irrigation frequencies improved the productive and morphophysiological aspects of tomato.•The stomata opening was greater at the greater intervals of irrigation.•This increased the efficiency of carboxylation, the photosynthesis rate and productivity.•The results from this study will help to improve the efficiency of tomato irrigation. Only a few studies have been conducted on the determination of irrigation frequencies that could maximize the functioning of the stomata in fresh market tomato and improve the photosynthetic and yield efficiency of this crop. These studies are especially scarce at the local level, although the consideration of local edaphoclimatic aspects is crucial for optimizing the irrigation management. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effects that different intervals of irrigation exert upon the opening of the stomata and the physiological and productive parameters of the fresh market tomato. To accomplish this, we evaluated five irrigation intervals: I1 - daily irrigation; I2 - irrigation every three days; I3 - irrigation every five days; I4 - irrigation every 7 days and I5 - irrigation every nine days. The experiments were conducted adopting the complete randomized block design, with five replicates. Treatment I4, with an irrigation interval of every seven days provided the maximum yield (149 t ha−1). This treatment also revealed greater photosynthetic efficiency and greater efficiency in water usage. Root development was greater in treatments I4 and I5, and enabled a greater deepening of the roots. Thus, the irrigation intervals with the lowest frequencies (I4 and I5) facilitated more stomata opening, higher photosynthetic efficiency and greater water usage efficiency, as well as the root deepening and higher productivity. The water usage efficiency was greater with the application of the irrigation intervals of seven and nine days. This justifies the adoption of these irrigation intervals for salad tomato in the Viçosa region, in order to maximize the functioning of the stomata and optimizing the irrigation in this crop.