Effects of calcium and magnesium on growth, fruit yield and quality in a fall greenhouse tomato crop grown on rockwool

Summary

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) ‘Trust’ was grown on rockwool with two concentrations of calcium (150 and 300 mg L-1) in combination with four concentrations of magnesium (20, 50, 80 and 110 mg L-1) in fall, 1999, to investigate their effects on plant growth, leaf photosynthesis, and fruit yield and quality (fruit firmness, dry matter, soluble solids and russeting). High Ca (300 mg L-1) concentration increased fruit yield and reduced the incidence of blossom-end rot (BER) and fruit russeting, compared with the low Ca concentration (150 mg L-1). High Ca concentration reduced fruit firmness but did not affect fruit size and leaf photosynthesis. Plants grown at 20 mg L-1 Mg started to show leaf chlorosis on both the middle and bottom leaves 8 wk after planting. Leaves with moderate chl