Evaluation of the tomato quality fertilized with sargassum extract from the Mexican Caribbean and mycorrhizae

Abstract

Tomato is one of the agricultural products with the highest economic value in the world, for its production agrochemicals are generally used, however, their excessive use has caused environmental problems. A commercial sargassum extract was evaluated as a fertilizer for tomato cultivation, it was applied at 2 (N2), 5 (N5) and 8% (N8), with and without inoculation (400 spores) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; mineral fertilization (C+) and no fertilization (C-) were used as controls. With C+ the highest number and weight of tomatoes were obtained, but the fruits were mostly small in diameter; with organic fertilization, medium-sized fruits were obtained, and they surpassed those of C- in all the parameters evaluated. The highest content of carotenoids was found in the tomatoes from N2, N5, N8 and NM8, the highest amount of sugar in the fruits from N5, N8 and NM8, the highest maturity and flavor indices in all organically fertilized with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi except NM5. The use of sargassum as a fertilizer is a good alternative to avoid the problems caused by its excessive arrival on the coasts, and it is given added value since a biofertilizer is obtained that helps production and improves the quality of tomatoes.