Effect of deficit irrigation on the sugar and acid profile of processing tomato cultivars

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[EN] Water deficit on tomato taste-related components was studied in standard and high lycopene cultivars. The treatment was applied once the fruits were set to avoid drastic effects on yield. Despite applying considerable reductions in water doses down to 50% ETc, the contents of fructose, malic and citric acid remained unaffected. Only glucose concentration increased with lower irrigation doses in one of the locations used for the study. The cultivar effect has a major impact in taste-related components, which might be shaded by location effects. Deficit irrigation during the last part of the growing cycle may contribute to a better water management while offering little or positive effects on the taste profile of processing tomato cultivars.