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Elicitors Enhance Yield and Secondary Metabolites in Tomato Cultivation: Experimental Validation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Tomatoes are a valuable horticultural product rich in essential nutrients. Elicitors can enhance their taste and nutritional quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various elicitors on the morphology, physiology, productivity, and phytochemistry of tomatoes. To achieve this goal, four treatments of elicitors were selected in a nonfactorial, randomized complete block design: E0 = control; E 1 = 160 mM NaCl; E 2 = 0.5 mM salicylic acid (SA); E 3 = 0.25 mM methyl jasmonate (MJ). Results showed that the NaCl application increased lycopene (2.18%), total sugar (19,05%), and antioxidant activity (3.71%). SA application improved fruit number per truss (107.05%), fruit set (88.32%), proline (32.41%), pH (14.21%), total flavonoids (1081.21%), and antioxidant activity (0.63%), respectively. MJ application increased beta‐carotene (215.98%), total soluble solids (7.75%), titratable acidity (44.44%), and antioxidant activity (2.40%), respectively. The study confirms that SA is an effective elicitor for improving tomato production and secondary metabolite content. These preliminary results suggest SA’s potential for improving tomato cultivation, though field trials are needed to confirm efficacy under agricultural conditions.

Source: International Journal of Agronomy

DOI: 10.1155/ioa/5404917

Authors: Arrin Rosmala, Imelda Marissa, Jajang Sauman Hamdani, Anne Nuraini, Bayu Pradana Nur Rahmat, Syariful Mubarok

Institutions: Universitas Perjuangan Tasikmalaya, Padjadjaran University, University of Tsukuba

Language: English

Topic: Plant Growth Enhancement Techniques

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,000