Effect of a modified plastic film on some biochemical aspects of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a greenhouse cover modified with nanoparticles and fluorescent pigments, named CIQA, on the yield and some biochemical variables and the quality of tomato fruits. The study was carried out at the Research Centre of Applied Chemistry located in Saltillo, Coahuila. Two greenhouses were prepared, one with a conventional cover and the other with the modified film. The photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the temperature inside and outside of the greenhouses were recorded. A tomato crop was established in the greenhouses, the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids was recorded for the plants and the content of Vitamin C and lycopene was recorded for the fruit. The maximum PAR readings were greater outside, followed by the conventional greenhouse and then the CIQA greenhouse. As for the temperature, the highest readings were recorded in the conventional plastic greenhouse, followed by the CIQA film and then the outside. Differences were observed during some samplings regarding the content of carotenoids, Vitamin C and lycopene. This makes it possible to conclude that the CIQA plastic film decreases the radiation and temperature inside the greenhouse, without affecting the quality standards of the fruit and the crop yield.