PRODUTIVIDADE, QUALIDADE FÍSICO-QUÍMICA E CONSERVAÇÃO PÓS-COLHEITA DE FRUTOS DE TOMATEIRO EM FUNÇÃO DE FONTES E DOSES DE SILÍCIO

Abstract

The Silicon is a beneficial nutrient for growth and yield of many plant species, including tomato. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different sources and rates of silicon on agronomic and post-harvest characteristics of tomato fruits, and to quantify the contents of silicon accumulated in leaves and fruits of tomato Kada Gigante (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The evaluated traits were: silicon concentrations in leaves, silicon concentration in fruits, total yield, yield of fruit with cracks, average fruit weight, dry weight of fruits, dry mass of fruits, soluble solids, titratable acidity, lycopene concentration, vitamin C, fruit firmness, post harvest fruit conservation. The experiment was performed in Guarapuava - PR, between the years 2009/2010. Treatments were arranged in a factorial 3 x 5, three sources: calcium silicate, potassium silicate and sodium silicate and five rates: 0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 kg ha-1 of silicon, with four replications in randomized block design. The greater availability of silicon in the soil in the form of sodium silicate, potassium or calcium, has generated greater absorption and redistribution of silicon in the plant, with its silicon content in leaf and fruit increased in response to treatments. The dry weight of leaves and dry weight of fruits were influenced by contents of silicon. Silicon provided an increase of 12% on tomato yield and decrease of cracked fruits, improved the chemical quality of tomato fruits, with the increase of total soluble solids, vitamin C and lycopene contents. Sodium silicate increased resistance in fruit post harvest.