Ef fect of Nitrate: Ammonium Ratio in Solanum nigrescens Mart. & Gal.

Abstract

The present research was carried out from January to December 2022 in a greenhouse of the Colegio de Posgraduados (CP), Campus Montecillo, located in the municipality of Texcoco, Mexico, with the objective of investigating the response of slender nightshade (Solanum nigrescens Mart. & Gal.) to four levels of nitrate:ammonium relationship (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75) regarding fruit yield and agronomical and physiological responses. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and nine replications. Each experimental unit consisted of a plant in a 40 × 40 cm plastic bag, with 13 L of red porous volcano gravel as substrate. Data collection of the morphological and physiological variables were carried out from germination to harvest. Training pruning was performed at 50 days af ter transplant. Data were analyzed in agronomic, nutritional and fruit quality terms. Biomass height, yield, fresh and dry weight, total soluble solids, chemical analysis of leaf tissue, analysis of specific ions in leaf cell extract and fruit set of nightshade, and total sugar concentration in ripe fruit were evaluated. With 75:25 ratio, the highest values were obtained in biomass, yield and significant results in the concentration of macro and micronutrients in the leaf. In total sugars in fruit, 50:50 ratio was obtained in the highest concentration.