Long-term impact of biofortified iodine on tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum) growth, yield, and quality

Background: Naturally occurring iodide iodine exhibits complex soil behavior. Even though higher plants don’t consider iodine a vitamin, living things need it. Iodine is part of the thyroid hormone, which is vital to human health and metabolism. Potassium is the most effective cation for tomato plants and has a crucial role in improving several post-harvest quality characteristics in tomato fruits as well as in almost all vegetables. Methods: In the present work, we assessed the growth, yield and quality (Ascorbic acid, Titrable acidity and soluble solids) of tomatoesfrom different sources of chitosan and potassium iodate alone and combinations. The field experiment was carried out in the Thondamuthur block of Viraliyur village in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu in 2022. The experiments were performed in randomized block design with three replications in palaviduthi soil series using hybrid tomato “Shivam”. Result: The chitosan iodate complex and foliar application combination enhanced the growth, yield and quality of tomato. Potassium iodate alone applied to soil and foliar, improved fruit quality but did not prevent acid loss during ripening. Chitosan reduces respiration and oxygen permeability to preserve losses. Thus, potassium iodate chitosan complex was favoured for boosting plant growth, fruit yield and quality.