title: Improvement of antioxidant and defense properties of Tomato (var. Pusa Rohini) by application of bioaugmented compost.
abstract: Nutrient management practices play a significant role in improving the nutritional quality of tomato. The present study deals with the evaluation of compost prepared using Effective Microorganisms (EM), on antioxidant and defense enzyme activities of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). A field experiment with five treatments (control, chemical fertilizer and EM compost alone and in combination) was conducted in randomized block design. An increment of 31.83% in tomato yield was recorded with the combined use of EM compost and half recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (N50P30K25 + EM compost at the rate of 5 t ha(-1)). Similarly, fruit quality was improved in terms of lycopene content (35.52%), antioxidant activity (24-63%) and defense enzymes activity (11-54%), in tomatoes in this treatment as compared to the application of recommended dose of fertilizers. Soil microbiological parameters also exhibited an increase of 7-31% in the enzyme activities in this treatment. Significant correlation among fruit quality parameters with soil microbiological activities reveals the positive impact of EM compost which may be adopted as an eco-friendly strategy for production of high quality edible products.
authors.affiliation: Lata Nain, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Lata Nain, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Division of Vegetable Sciences, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Division of Post Harvest Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Charanjit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Lata Nain, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Division of Vegetable Sciences, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Raghubir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Lata Nain, Division of Microbiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Lata
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nain
keywords: Antioxidant; Defense enzyme; EM compost; Effective Microorganisms; Lycopene