SALINITY INDUCED CHANGES IN VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE GROWTH IN TOMATO

Vegetative and reproductive growth were studied in five tomato (Lycope rsicon esculentum Mill) cultivars under saline conditions imposed at t he five-leaf stage by addition of 50 mM NaCl to half strength Hoagland nutrient solution. The plants were raised in pots filled with washed quartz sand kept in a greenhouse. Stem height and number of leaves in tomato plants were significantly reduced when irrigated with saline re gimes in contrast with control plants that received only the Hoagland solution. The highest number of flowers were obtained in the cultivar Pearson and the least in cultivar Strain B. Fruit set and yield were l ittle affected by varietal differences and were not related to vegetat ive growth. Fruit weight was suppressed with NaCl stress, but improvem ent in weight was achieved when potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were ad ded to the saline water. The most detrimental effect of NaCl stress wa s the reduction of biomass yield in tomatoes. However, the relative dr y weights of Pearson and Monte Carlo were increased to 60% and 54%, re spectively, when NaCl was supplemented with Ca. Large varietal differe nces in biomass occurred among the NaCl-treated and control plants. To mato fruit quality (TSS) was improved by salinization.