Abstract
Abstract Insufficient fruit set of tomatoes owing to poor pollination in low cost greenhouses is a problem in South Africa, as bumblebee pollinators may not be imported. Since sub-optimum boron (B) levels may also contribute to fruit set problems, this aspect was investigated. Greenhouse tomatoes were planted in acid-washed river sand. Four nutrient solutions with only B at different levels (0.02; 0.16; 0.32 and 0.64 mg l-1) were used. Leaf analyses indicated that the uptake of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and B increased with higher B levels. At the low B level, leaves were brittle and appeared pale-green and very high flower abscission percentages were found. Fruit lacked firmness at the low B level and this problem worsened during storage. At the 0.16 mg kg-1 B-level, fruit set, fruit development, colour, total soluble solids, firmness and shelf life seemed to be close to optimum. The highest B-level had no detrimental effect on any of the yield and quality related parameters. However, using 'Solubor' as a source of B, high levels decreased soluble Mn concentrations in nutrient solutions, probably owing to the precipitation of insoluble MnO2. This was reflected in reduced leaf-Mn concentrations. Keywords: Boroncalciumfruit setpollinationtomatoes
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Higher boron increased uptake of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and B.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“uptake of Ca, Mg, Na, Zn and B increased with higher B levels”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaves at low boron were brittle and pale green.
Not reportedTaxonComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“At the low B level, leaves were brittle and appeared pale-green”
Claim · model-written summary
Flower abscission was very high at low boron.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At the low B level, leaves were brittle and appeared pale-green and very high flower abscission percentages were found”
Claim · model-written summary
Fruit firmness was poor at low boron and worsened in storage.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“Fruit lacked firmness at the low B level and this problem worsened during storage”
Claim · model-written summary
At 0.16 mg kg-1 boron, fruit set and development seemed near optimum.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At the 0.16 mg kg-1 B-level, fruit set, fruit development, colour, total soluble solids, firmness and shelf life seemed to be close to optimum”
Claim · model-written summary
At 0.16 mg kg-1 boron, color, soluble solids, firmness and shelf life seemed near optimum.
- Treatment
- 0.16 mg kg-1 B-levele0
- Outcome
- colour, total soluble solids, firmness and shelf lifee0
- Direction
- close to optimume0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“At the 0.16 mg kg-1 B-level, fruit set, fruit development, colour, total soluble solids, firmness and shelf life seemed to be close to optimum”
Claim · model-written summary
Highest boron level had no detrimental yield or quality effects.
- Treatment
- highest B-levele0
- Outcome
- yield and quality related parameterse0
- Direction
- no detrimental effecte0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“The highest B-level had no detrimental effect on any of the yield and quality related parameters”
Claim · model-written summary
High boron from Solubor reduced soluble manganese in the nutrient solution.
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“high levels decreased soluble Mn concentrations in nutrient solutions”
Claim · model-written summary
High boron reduced leaf manganese concentrations.
Not reportedTaxonTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“This was reflected in reduced leaf-Mn concentrations”