Physicochemical characteristics of tomato fruits for industrial processing according to the irrigation management/Caracteristicas fisico-quimicas de frutos de tomateiro para processamento industrial em funcao de manejos da irrigacao

HIGHLIGHTS: Growing processing tomato under water deficit promotes greater water productivity for the fruit pulp yield. Irrigation deficit before harvesting reduces tomato yield and does not increase pulp yield. High irrigation levels can reduce the yield of processing tomatoes in Brazilian Cerrado. This study was carried out to evaluate the postharvest quality of processing tomato fruits, submitted to irrigation depths and periods of suspension of irrigation before harvest, irrigated by subsurface drip in Cerrado areas in the southern region of Goias State, Brazil, in 2015 and 2016. The experiments were established under a randomized block design, with four replicates arranged in a split plots scheme. In the plots, five irrigation depths were evaluated (50, 75,100,125 and 150% of the crop evapotranspiration) and, in the subplots, five periods of suspension of irrigation (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days before harvest) were assessed. After harvesting, which occurred at 125 days after transplanting the seedlings, the average fruit mass, fruit shape (longitudinal and transversal diameter), total soluble solids content, titratable acidity pH, firmness, pulp yield, and water productivity for pulp yield were evaluated. Irrigation deficit, with the replacement of less than 100% of crop evapotranspiration, allowed to save water but significantly reduced the size of the fruits and the production of concentrated pulp. The suspension of irrigation before harvest decreased pulp yield and fruit size. The highest water productivity for pulp yiela of tomato fruits occurred under water deficit with 50% of crop evapotranspiration. Irrigation depths from 50 to 150% of crop evapotranspiration and suspension before harvest does not influence total soluble solids content, pH, and fruit firmness. Key words: Solarium, lycopersicom L., subsurface drip irrigation, irrigation depths, suspension of irrigation, crop evapotranspiration A pesquisa objetivou avaliar a qualidade pos-colheita de frutos de tomateiro para processamento industrial, submetido a laminas de irrigacao e periodos de corte cle irrigacao antes da colheita, irrigado por gotejamento subterraneo em areas de Cerrado na regiao Sul de Goias, Brasil, nos anos de 2015 e 2016. Os experimentos foram instalados no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repeticoes, em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas avaliaram-se cinco laminas de irrigacao (50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% da evapotranspiracao da cultura) e nas subparcelas cinco peri