TY - JOUR

T1 - Ammonium nitrogen combined with partial root-zone drying enhanced fruit quality of tomato under elevated atmospheric CO2

AU - Wei, Guiyu

AU - Zhang, Manyi

AU - Cui, Bingjing

AU - Wei, Zhenhua

AU - Liu, Fulai

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Increasing nitrogen fertilization and reduced irrigation regimes can alleviate the negative effect of elevated CO2 (e[CO2]) on fruit quality of tomatoes, yet little is known about the effects of N forms combined with partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRI) on tomato growth and fruit quality under e[CO2]. This study aimed to investigate the response of tomato plants to N forms, PRI and their interactions under e[CO2]. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were grown in split-root pots in climate-controlled growth chambers with CO2 concentration of 400 ppm and 800 ppm, respectively, supplied with two N forms i.e. nitrate nitrogen (NN) and ammonium nitrogen (AN). Three irrigation regimes, i.e. full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI) and PRI were applied from anthesis to fruit maturity. The results showed that e[CO2] decreased plant water use (WU) while increased biomass accumulation (ΔDW), water use efficiency (WUE) and fruit number (FN). Under e[CO2], AN plants had less ΔDW, leaf area and WU while similar yield, as compared with NN plants. Additionally, under e[CO2] with PRI treatment, AN fruits had greater [N], [K], [N/P], and soluble solid (Brix) to acid ratio, but lower [C/N], [P/K] and acid concentration, and similar fruit [C], [P], [Ca], [Mg] and [S], in comparison with the NN fruits. Collectively, AN treatment combined with PRI under e[CO2] improved fruit mineral nutrition and the flavor of tomato fruits without reduction in yield and WUE. Therefore, AN combined with PRI could be an alternative strategy to improve tomato fruit quality in future drier and CO2-enriched environment.

AB - Increasing nitrogen fertilization and reduced irrigation regimes can alleviate the negative effect of elevated CO2 (e[CO2]) on fruit quality of tomatoes, yet little is known about the effects of N forms combined with partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRI) on tomato growth and fruit quality under e[CO2]. This study aimed to investigate the response of tomato plants to N forms, PRI and their interactions under e[CO2]. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were grown in split-root pots in climate-controlled growth chambers with CO2 concentration of 400 ppm and 800 ppm, respectively, supplied with two N forms i.e. nitrate nitrogen (NN) and ammonium nitrogen (AN). Three irrigation regimes, i.e. full irrigation (FI), deficit irrigation (DI) and PRI were applied from anthesis to fruit maturity. The results showed that e[CO2] decreased plant water use (WU) while increased biomass accumulation (ΔDW), water use efficiency (WUE) and fruit number (FN). Under e[CO2], AN plants had less ΔDW, leaf area and WU while similar yield, as compared with NN plants. Additionally, under e[CO2] with PRI treatment, AN fruits had greater [N], [K], [N/P], and soluble solid (Brix) to acid ratio, but lower [C/N], [P/K] and acid concentration, and similar fruit [C], [P], [Ca], [Mg] and [S], in comparison with the NN fruits. Collectively, AN treatment combined with PRI under e[CO2] improved fruit mineral nutrition and the flavor of tomato fruits without reduction in yield and WUE. Therefore, AN combined with PRI could be an alternative strategy to improve tomato fruit quality in future drier and CO2-enriched environment.

KW - Ammonium

KW - CO

KW - Irrigation

KW - Nitrate

KW - Quality

KW - Tomato

U2 - 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112514

DO - 10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112514

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85171483520

VL - 323

JO - Scientia Horticulturae

JF - Scientia Horticulturae

SN - 0304-4238

M1 - 112514

ER -