Foliar Ascorbic Acid Enhances Postharvest Quality of Cherry Tomatoes in Saline Hydroponic Substrate System

Fellype Jonathar Lemos da Silva, Hans Raj Gheyi, Geovani Soares de Lima (), Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares, Vera Lúcia Antunes de Lima, Francisco Jean da Silva Paiva, André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva, Denis Soares Costa, Rafaela Aparecida Frazão Torres, Allesson Ramos de Souza, Vitor Manoel Bezerra da Silva, Maria Amanda Guedes, Valeska Karolini Nunes Oliveira, Brencarla de Medeiros Lima and Reynaldo Teodoro de Fátima
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Fellype Jonathar Lemos da Silva: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Hans Raj Gheyi: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Geovani Soares de Lima: Academic Unit of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares: Academic Unit of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil
Vera Lúcia Antunes de Lima: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Francisco Jean da Silva Paiva: Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Sertão, Federal University of Sergipe, Nossa Senhora da Glória 49680-000, SE, Brazil
André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva: Academic Unit of Agronomy, Federal University of Western Pará, Juruti 68170-000, PA, Brazil
Denis Soares Costa: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Rafaela Aparecida Frazão Torres: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Allesson Ramos de Souza: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Vitor Manoel Bezerra da Silva: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Maria Amanda Guedes: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Valeska Karolini Nunes Oliveira: Academic Unit of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande 58430-380, PB, Brazil
Brencarla de Medeiros Lima: Food Technology Department, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil
Reynaldo Teodoro de Fátima: Academic Unit of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal 58840-000, PB, Brazil

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: Ascorbic acid is a non-enzymatic antioxidant compound essential for plant defense under salt stress conditions. It can induce salt stress tolerance and enable the use of saline water in hydroponic cultivation with substrates. This study evaluated the effect of foliar application of ascorbic acid on the yield and postharvest quality of ‘Laranja’ cherry tomatoes grown in saline nutrient solutions under a substrate-based hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, in a randomized block design in a 5 × 5 factorial arrangement, corresponding to five levels of electrical conductivity of the saline nutrient solution—SNS (2.1—Control, 2.8, 3.5, 4.2, and 4.9 dS m −1 ) and five concentrations of ascorbic acid—AA (0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 mg L −1 ), with four replications. Salinity above 2.1 dS m −1 reduced yield components and phenolic compound content. However, the saline nutrient solution of 4.9 dS m −1 combined with 600 mg L −1 foliar application of AA increased fruit firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acidity. Additionally, SNS of 4.9 dS m −1 enhanced the levels of vitamin C, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. While AA improved postharvest quality of cherry tomatoes, it did not increase production under salt stress. Foliar application is thus a promising approach for enhancing fruit quality of cherry tomatoes grown in hydroponic systems using saline water, supporting sustainable production in semiarid regions.

Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme; hydroponics; salt stress; ascorbic acid; antioxidant treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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