Fruit quality of cherry and large fruited tomato genotypes as influenced by water deficit

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of long term moderate drought stress on fruit yield and quality of four parents of the MAGIC TOM population and to gain insight into the differences in sensitivity to drought between large fruited and cherry tomatoes. Results showed that long term water deficit had a negative effect on fresh mass and fruit diameter that were more expressed in cherry tomatoes than in large fruited ones. Long term moderate water deficit can improve fruit taste in large fruited tomato genotypes by active metabolic accumulation of soluble sugar and organic acid (sucrose and citric acid), which are also osmotic active compounds. The reduction in fruit growth of cherry tomatoes compared to large fruits could be compensated for by improving fruit nutritional value (ascorbic acid, carotenoids and antioxidant activity) through both concentration and metabolic responses.