Evaluation the effect of deficit irrigation on growth properties, yield and post harvest quality of two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars under Mindoab conditions

Deficit irrigation is an essential optimization method for water consumption in irrigated lands. In order to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation on growth, yield and quality traits of two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars a factorial layout based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in Agricultural Research Station of Miandoab during growing season 2010-2011. Experimental treatments included two tomato cultivars such as Early urbana l11 and Rio-grand and four deficit irrigation such as 60, 80, 100, 120 mm evaporation from Pan. Results of analysis of variance revealed that the effect of different irrigation levels were significant (p≤0.05) on plant growth indices such as plant height, number of marketable fruits, fruit weight and length, total yield, soluble solid, chlorophyll, lycopene, Beta carotene and EC of fruits of tomato. The highest value for traits such as plant height (93.7 cm), fruit length (7.65 cm), number of marketable fruit (16.29) fruit weight (174 g) and total yield (8.3 kg) were obtained 60 mm evaporation from pan, while the highest value for postharvest properties such as brix (5.86%) and lycopene (17.10 %) were produced in 120 mm evaporation from pan enhanced post harvest quality of tomato fruits. In general, results of this investigation indicated deficit irrigation led to reduction in vegetative growth parameters and improvement in post harvest quality of assessed tomato cultivars