Incidence of fruit defects and quality attributes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as affected by soil application of micronutrients in Doon Valley soil

Field experiments were conducted during 2006–07 and 2007–08 to study the influence of soil applied micronutrients on the fruit defects and quality of tomato with treatments viz. iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, all of them together as a mixture and control. The results indicated that the mixture of micronutrients and boron (alone) gave reduced incidence of fruit cracking and malformed fruits. This also led to subsequent decrease in the percentage of total defected fruits. The maximum fruit weight, shelf life and TSS were found with mixture of micronutrients followed by boron treatment. The highest acidity in fruits was recorded with copper application, whereas application of boron led to decrease in acidity. The highest ascorbic acid content (27.96 mg 100 mlɹ) in tomato fruit was obtained with the application of zinc. In all, soil application of mixture of micronutrients resulted in reduced incidence of fruit defects and improved the quality of tomato.