Effect of abscisic acid on the calcium content for controlling blossom-end rot in tomato under water stress

Abstract

Water stress in tomato plants may cause the incidence of blossom-end rot. This study aimed to analyze the effect of abscisic acid leaf application for increasing the calcium uptake in irrigated tomato (‘Santa Clara’ cultivar) in the field, as a possible mechanism of blossom-end rot inhibition. The treatments consisted of four irrigation levels (25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of the crop water requirements to fulfil the crop evapotranspiration) and two abscisic acid doses (0 mg L^-1 and 500 mg L^-1). The fruits were harvested at 15 and 30 days after the anthesis and evaluated for calcium content and percentage of blossom-end rot. The application of abscisic acid increased the calcium partition to the distal region of the fruits at 30 days after the beginning of flowering, as well as reduced the incidence of blossom-end rot by 86 %, when compared with plants not treated with abscisic acid. It is possible to conclude that the foliar application of abscisic acid can significantly reduce the incidence of blossom-end rot.