Summary
This greenhouse trial examined how increasing electrical conductivity (EC) from nutrient enrichment and different rootstock genotypes affected grafted tomato performance in soilless culture. Increasing EC from 2 to 9 dS m⁻¹ significantly reduced yield (approximately 60%) and yield-related fruit properties, but substantially increased fruit quality traits including soluble solids (45% increase), lycopene (53%), titratable acidity (96%), and skin firmness (19%). Rootstock genotype showed no significant effect on yield, fruit size, pericarp thickness, skin firmness, TSS, lycopene, or reducing sugars, suggesting that EC-induced nutritional stress was the primary driver of observed changes, not rootstock selection.
Regional applicability
The study was conducted in a closed soilless system in controlled greenhouse conditions, with no specific geographic location stated in the abstract; transferability to United Kingdom glasshouse horticulture systems would depend on whether UK growers operate similar hydroponic or nutrient film techniques and whether the commercial rootstocks tested are cultivated in UK production. The findings on salinity tolerance and fruit quality trade-offs under high EC may inform UK protected horticulture practice, particularly if exploring cultivar selection strategies.
Key measures
Total yield, marketable yield, total number of fruits, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, pericarp thickness, skin firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), lycopene content, titratable acidity, reducing sugars
Outcomes reported
The study measured yield (total and marketable), fruit quality parameters (diameter, weight, pericarp thickness, skin firmness, soluble solids, lycopene, titratable acidity, and sugars) across five nutrient-induced EC levels (2–9 dS m⁻¹) and eleven commercial rootstocks in a soilless greenhouse system. Effects of rootstock genotype and EC-induced nutritional stress on these parameters were assessed.
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