Nutritional balance as an ally of the natural resistance of tomato plants

Nutritional balance is an important ally in tomato plants, as it favors the natural resistance of plants and enable them to better face eventual stressful situations.

The genetic improvement of tomato plants has constantly evolved, contributing to the productive capacity, as well as to the quality of the fruits, making it possible to plant them in different soil and climate regions, and also, tolerance and/or resistance to diseases and pests, making it possible to meet the demands of different consumer market niches in a satisfactory manner. 

These advances have provided, together with other factors such as temperature, light, water and nutrients, adequate development, which will provide the expected productivity and quality of fruits at harvest time.

The nutrients considered essential for plants are those that participate in some structural or physiological function of plants, without which the plant cannot complete its development. And the balance between nutrients, at each stage of tomato development, is essential for balanced development so that the cultivar expresses its genetic potential.

Furthermore, it is necessary to be attentive because climatic surprises tend to occur every year, making it necessary to adjust this management and manage these plants in the face of possible stressful factors, whether climatic or due to attacks by pathogens, insects and pests, after all, a well-functioning plant nourished and balanced, you will have a greater capacity to overcome these different stressors.

Nutrients play a fundamental role in the natural resistance mechanisms of plants, such as the formation of mechanical barriers, by increasing the thickness of cell walls; the synthesis of defense compounds, such as antioxidants (phytoalexins and flavonoids); and, also, the ability to absorb more nutrients and water, together with the generation of energy through photosynthesis, making the plant prepared before this possible stressful moment.

Among these nutrients, there are the micronutrients copper and zinc, which in addition to participating in primary metabolism, such as photosynthesis and respiration, participate in secondary metabolism, which is related to the natural defense mechanisms of plants, such as the synthesis of antioxidant and defense compounds. of the vegetable. Therefore, it is essential to maintain adequate nutritional levels for the normal development of the crop, since in conditions of deficiency or imbalance, in the respective stages of tomato development, both the productivity and the final quality of the fruits may be compromised.

These micronutrients must be supplied together with other nutrients via the soil, and also, during the development of the crop via foliar, in addition to base and top dressing fertilization. These elements, when applied foliarly, will contribute to both the synthesis and signaling of physiological activities of plants, thus having a nutritious effect, preparing plants against possible stressful situations.

When nutrients are supplied via the foliar route, it is necessary to be efficient, either with the use of soluble sources, quantity and proportions balanced with other elements, and complexed and/or chelated, so that adequate foliar absorption occurs, and thus has a contribution to the plant development.

In agriculture, there are currently solutions that are composed of these important micronutrients, which are complexed by amino acids and combined with polysaccharides obtained from microbial fermentation, which will contribute in a more effective and balanced way, and thus help towards a more balanced growth of plants. and with greater capacity for the production of defense compounds against possible stressful factors that may occur during tomato cultivation.

Therefore, regardless of the different tomato cultivars, the type of cultivation and the climatic conditions, it is always necessary to be efficient in the nutritional management of the plants, so that they can complete their production cycle within the appropriate time, whether for growth or for a greater capacity for resistance against stressful factors, so that the tomato plant can express its greatest productive potential, with better quality fruits.

Marcos Revoredo, Alltech