Tomato irrigated with boron enriched fresh water: effects on leaves and berries

Summary. – The aim of this research was to study the effect of irrigation with B enriched fresh water (2 mg/l) on tomato plants. In particular, damage to leaves and the nutritional value of berries were investigated. Tomato berries were analysed for the levels of lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activities, lycopene, tocopherols, ascorbic acid and phenols, whereas leaves were investigated for the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), ascorbic acid, glutathione, glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities. In comparison with the control, leaves showed higher amounts of B and TBARS and lower contents of glutathione as well as decreased GR and APX activities. Moreover, with time control leaves showed decreases in TBARS and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents and increases in oxidised glutathione (GSSG) amount and GR and APX activities. In contrast, nutritional value of tomato berries did not change with the treatment since both antioxidant activity and major antioxidants amounts remained constant.