The effects of nitrogen and potassium fertilization on tomato flavor were studied. Field-grown Walter c.v. tomatoes were treated with three levels of nitrogen and potassium. Soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity (TA), volatile flavor compounds, and sensory evaluation of overall flavor were studied. / Taste panel tests indicated that the lower fertilization level (100 lb/A N- 150 lb/A K) yielded tomatoes with a more desirable flavor. Tomatoes grown at the two higher levels of fertilization (200 lb/A N-300 lb/A K; 300 lb/A N-450 lb/A K) did not differ in flavor. Soluble solids and TA were found to increase with increasing levels of N and K. There was a modest trend toward lower pH values in tomatoes grown at lower fertilization levels. Although no qualitative differences were observed among volatiles from the three treatments, several compounds were found to change quantitatively with treatment. MS and GC enrichment were used to tentatively identify these volatiles. Hexenal, 2-hexanone, 2,4-hexadienal, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, beta-ionone and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were found to increase with increasing levels of N and K fertilization. Farnesol isomers appeared maximally in treatment II and eugenol decreased with increasing fertilization. / This study indicates that tomatoes treated with high levels of N and K do not exhibit desirable flavor despite an increase in both TA and soluble solids. This may be due to the intrusion of undesirable flavors from volatiles whose production is increased under conditions of high N and K fertilization. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 43-10, Section: B, page: 3182. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1982.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74966 |
| Contributors | WRIGHT, DEBORAH HARRIS., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 86 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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