Seedling and fruit quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Var. SuprA) in response to spraying sucrose and boric acid

Sucrose and boron as a source of carbohydrates and an effective factor in carbohydrate transport, respectively heve positive effects on seedlings’ growth. In this study, the effect of spraying sucrose and boric acid were evaluated on seedlings and fruits quality of tomato in the nursury and field, respectively. Tomato seeds (Var. SuprA) were planted in seedling tray. Seedlings were subdivided into two groups for foliar application: 1- were sprayed in the nursery, and 2- were sprayed after transplanting into the soil. Foliar application of each group was performed in three stages with concentrations of 0, 5 and 10% sucrose and 0, 0.1 and 0.2% boric acid. The results revealed that nutrition of sucrose and boric acid in nursery reduced seedlings’ height and leaf area upto 30 percent in comparison to the control, which might be desirable to tolerate the potential stress caused by transplanting process. Because of decreased shoot growth, the root to shoot ratio of seedlings increased by all treatments containing sucrose upto 35 percent compared to control. Spraying with 10 percent sucrose and 0.1 percent boric acid in nursery were significantly improved shoot dry weight to 0.04 g and carotenoid upto 0.214 mg/gFW. Also, tomato seedlings sprayed with sucrose and boric acid immediately after transplanting had positive effects on plants growth. The highest number of flowers (114.86) and the highest number of clusters with (19.7) were recorded for 0.2 percent boric acid treatment. Maximum number of fruits per plant (18.70) was recorded for spraying sucrose 5 percent plus boric acid 0.1 percent. For coclusion, increasing the carbohydrate content of transplant through sucrose foliar application is a key factor in plant establishment. It was also found that the boron element allows sucrose transfer into the plant. The simultaneous use of sucrose and boron improved sucrose absorption rates in the plants.