Impact of drought on flowering, yield and quality parameters in diverse genotypes of tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em> L.)

Abstract

The effect of drought stress on flowering, yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genotypes was investigated under field conditions in rainout shelter. The drought condition was imposed on the first day after trans-planting based on field capacity of soil. Experimentation was undertaken with ten genotypes adopting Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and two treatments viz., 1.0 IW/CPE and 0.5 IW/CPE field capacity. As the stress increased from 100% field capacity to 50% field capacity, reductions in chlorophyll index, soluble protein con-tent, days to flower initiation, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, fruit volume, fruit diameter, yield and increased flower abscission percentage were noted. Significant increases in TSS and lycopene were observed under drought. The genotypes LE 118, LE 57 and LE 114 showed significantly less reduction in soluble protein content; SPS activ-ity and fruit yield during drought were considered as drought tolerant. Genotypes LE 1 and LE 125, which gave the lowest soluble protein content, SPS activity and ultimately poor yield, were considered as drought susceptible.