Effect of soil water deficit on coloring and carotene formation in fruits of red, pink, and yellow type cherry tomatoes.

摘要

The effects of soil water content on fruit colour and carotene content were investigated in cherry tomato cultivars Mini Carol (red), Cherry Pink (pink), Yellow Carol (yellow) and Orange Carol (yellow-tangerine) in Japan. Soil water deficit accelerated fruit colouring in spring and autumn crops of Mini Carol, and in autumn crops of Cherry Pink. In most cultivars, pigmentation was advanced by soil water deficit, as determined by colour hue and/or chroma. Except for Orange Carol, fruit colouring effects of soil water deficit were more effective in autumn crops than in spring crops. Orange Carol was unaffected by the treatment. In the red and pink fruits, total carotene of fully ripe fruits was increased by soil water deficit, and the amount of lycopene was higher than in controls. Soil water deficit increased the amount of beta-carotene in Yellow Carol, but it had no effect on the beta-carotene content of Orange Carol in spring or autumn crops.