ABSTRACT

Excess of salts in water and/or soil stands out as one of the stresses that compromise the development of crops, including cherry tomato, requiring the use of strategies that reduce salt stress effects, such as foliar application of hydrogen peroxide. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of H₂O₂ on the contents of photosynthetic pigments, growth, and production of cherry tomato under irrigation water salinity. The design used was randomized blocks, in a 5 × 5 factorial scheme, with five values of electrical conductivity of water - ECw (0.3, 1.0, 1.7, 2.4, and 3.1 dS m^-1) and five concentrations of hydrogen peroxide - H₂O₂ (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 μM). Application of hydrogen peroxide at concentration of 60 μM attenuated the deleterious effects of salt stress on the growth and number of leaves of cherry tomato up to ECw of 3.1 dS m^-1. Hydrogen peroxide concentration of 45 μM increased root dry mass, synthesis of chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll under electrical conductivity of water of 0.3 dS m^-1 and synthesis of chlorophyll a up to ECw of 0.8 dS m^-1. Foliar application of 30 μM reduced the effects of salt stress on leaf, shoot and total dry mass accumulation up to ECw of 3.1 dS m^-1. Electrical conductivity of water from 1.41 dS m^-1 reduced the production of cherry tomato.

Key words:
Solanum lycopersicum L.; acclimatization; elicitor; salinity

HIGHLIGHTS:

Foliar application of H₂O₂ attenuates the effects of salt stress on cherry tomato growth under ECw of up to 3.1 dS m^-1.

H₂O₂ concentration of 45 µM increases chlorophyll contents in cherry tomato leaves.

Electrical conductivity of water above 1.41 dS m^-1 reduces cherry tomato production.