Biochemical attributes,plant growth and yield of tomato as affected by boron application rates

A glasshouse pot experiment,with two tomato cultivars vct-1 and riogrande,was carried out to assess the effects of four levels of soil application of b (0,0.5,1.0 and 1.5 mg kg -1) in the form of borax on plant growth,biochemical content,antioxidant activity and fruit yield. higher plant growth and fruit yield in both cultivars were achieved by the b 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg -1 soil application respectively. application of 0.5 mg b kg -1 had lower dry matter production as well as fruit yield when compared with b 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg -1. the percent increase of fruit yield at 0.5 mg b kg -1 was 12 and 10,in vct-1 and riogrande respectively. in the same cultivars,b application @ 1.0 mg b kg -1 caused the fruit yield by 23 and 21% while 1.5 mg b kg -1 enhanced by 22 and 20% respectively. boron concentration in leaf,fruit and root increased with the increasing level of b. boron application at 1.0 and 1.5 mg kg -1 significantly increased chlorophyll,sugar and protein content in both cultivars. superoxide dismutase and catalase activity was significantly increased by the soil application of 1.5 mg b kg -1 in both cultivars of tomato. results showed that soil application of 1.0 mg b kg -1 soil have a positive effect on plant growth,yield and biochemical attributes of both the tomato cultivars.