Response of Cherry Tomato to Irrigation Levels and Fruit Pruning under Greenhouse Conditions

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the response of cherry tomato cultivar Dulcito RZ to different irrigation levels and fruit pruning treatments. Treatments were three irrigation levels [۵۰, ۷۵, and ۱۰۰%, based on the crop Evapotranspiration (ETc)], and three fruit pruning treatments (۶, ۸, and ۱۰ fruits truss-۱). Results showed that the highest irrigation level (۱۰۰% ETc) increased fruit weight and size, and total and marketable yield. However, water stress treatment (۵۰% ETc) increased fruit quality traits (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, and total sugars). Plants pruned to ۶ fruits truss-۱ yielded a heavier and larger fruit size, while unpruned plants had smaller fruit size with a significant increase in total and marketable yield due to increased number of fruits plant-۱. The increased incidence of fruit cracking with lower fruit load (۶ fruits truss-۱) or with higher irrigation level (۱۰۰% ETc) were related with the larger fruit size. The ۵۰% ETc and full fruits truss-۱ (zero fruit pruning) treatments caused the highest values of irrigation water use efficiency (۲۵.۶-۲۵.۸ and ۲۹.۹-۳۰.۴ kg m-۳, respectively). To maximize marketable yield of cherry tomato and conserving irrigation water, it is recommended to apply ۱۰ fruits truss-۱ pruning treatment along with the medium irrigation water level (۷۵% ETc) under greenhouse conditions.