Benavides Mendoza, A., de Alba Romenus, K., León de la Rocha, J. F., Narváez Ortiz, W. A.

, &
Francisco Francisco, N. (2022). Ionic sufficiency of the nutrient solution and effects on the
total soluble solids concentration in mini tomatoes. Nova Scientia, 14(29), 1-11.
doi.org/10.21640/ns.v14i29.3130
Ionic sufficiency of the nutrient solution and effects on the total soluble solid’s concentration in mini
tomatoes
Suficiencia iónica de la solución nutritiva y efectos en la concentración de los sólidos solubles totales
en tomates mini

Adalberto Benavides Mendoza 1 - Karim de Alba Romenus 2 - Jorge Francisco León de la Rocha 3
Willian Alfredo Narváez Ortiz 1 - Nazario Francisco Francisco 3

1 Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Horticultura. Saltillo, Coahuila

2 Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Subdirección de Informática. Saltillo, Coahuila
3 Universidad Tecnológica de Tehuacán, Departamento de Agricultura Sustentable y Protegida. San Pablo

Tepetzingo, Tehuacán, Puebla

Correspondence author: nazariof.francisco@uttehuacan.edu.mx

Reception: 10-02-2022 / Acceptation: 07-07-2022

© Nova Scientia, under Creative Commons license

Abstract
Mini tomato production in the greenhouse has reached the last decades, however, the efficient use of fertilizers
and the effect on the quality of the fruits are often overlooked. In this work, the ionic concentration ranges were
determined, as well as the relationship between the ions (NO3-, K+, Ca2+, and Na+), the pH, electrical conductivity
of the nutrient solution, the total soluble solids (TSS) of the cell extract of petiole (PCE) and the fruit cell extract
(FCE) in mini tomatoes (Grape, Savantas, and Tov) in the summer-winter cycle. High ranges of ionic
concentration were recorded. The Na+ and K+ collected in the emitters showed strong resonance with the same
ions recorded in the PCE. The heat map of the correlations showed clusters between the K + and Ca2+ of the
nutrient solution, which were found to be highly correlated with the PCE and FCE content in the winter season.
Principal component analysis showed that NO3- and Na+ are far from the K+ and Ca2+ content of PCE and FCE.
The concentration ranges found suggest ionic sufficiency for mini tomato genotypes produced in high-tech
greenhouse.
Keywords: petiole cell extract; fruit cell extract; high-tech greenhouse; nitrate; calcium; potassium; sodium;
pH; electrical conductivity; Solanum lycopersicum L; fruit; summer; winter; cycles; seasons; nutrition

Resumen
La producción de tomate mini en invernadero ha aumentado en las últimas décadas, sin embargo, el uso
eficiente de los fertilizantes y el efecto en la calidad de los frutos, con frecuencia se pasan por alto. En este
trabajo se determinaron los rangos de concentración iónica, así como la relación entre los iones (NO 3-, K+, Ca2+,
y Na+), el pH, conductividad eléctrica de la solución nutritiva, los sólidos totales solubles (TSS) del extracto
celular de peciolo (PCE) y el extracto celular de fruto (FCE) en tomates mini (Grape, Savantas, y Tov) en el ciclo
verano-invierno. Se registraron altos rangos de concentración iónica. El Na + y K+ colectados en los emisores,
mostraron fuerte correlación con los mismos iones registrados en el PCE. El mapa de calor de las correlaciones
mostró agrupaciones entre el K+ y Ca2+ de la solución nutritiva, los cuales se encontraron en alta correlación con
el contenido en PCE y FCE en la temporada de invierno. El análisis de componentes principales mostró que el
NO3- y Na+ distan del contenido de K+ y Ca2+ del PCE y FCE. Los rangos de concentración encontrados, sugieren
suficiencia iónica para los genotipos de tomate mini producidos en invernadero de alta tecnología.
Palabras clave: extracto celular de peciolo; extracto celular de fruto; invernadero de alta tecnología; nitrato;
calcio; potasio; sodio; pH; conductividad eléctrica; Solanum lycopersicum L.; fruta; verano; invierno; ciclos;
temporadas; nutrición
Ionic sufficiency of the nutrient solution and effects on the total soluble solids concentration in mini tomatoes

1. Introduction
Greenhouse crop production is a form of intensive agricultural production where crops are obtained out of
seasons. This form of agriculture has been widely sophisticated in developed countries (Ares et al., 2021).
Tomato is one of the most greenhouse-grown crops in the world and one of the most accepted by consumers
for its nutritional characteristics and antioxidant properties (Souri and Dehnavard, 2017). The high
productivity of greenhouse tomatoes has been achieved by using soilless and fertigation techniques, with rock
wool and coconut fiber as the most used growing substrates (Osvalde et al., 2021). The highest yields have been
achieved in high-tech greenhouse, in which climate control plays an important role (Schulker et al., 2020). In
order to achieve high yields, growers have been paid studies analysis leaf for precision in fertilizer management.
Plant tissue is a fast tool to diagnose a suspected nutrient deficiency; there are several studies of plant tissues
reference including petiole, but rarely fruits. Researchers has been provided sufficiency ranges nutrient for
vegetables crops in field conditions by this technique (Hochmuth, 2004). However, the ranges sufficiency
nutrient for vegetables crops under greenhouse conditions proposed by researchers are still scant (Llanderal
et al., 2018; Peña-Fleitas et al., 2015). At the same time, the influence of the salinity concentration is significant
on nutrient content of crops (Islam et al., 2018). Ion dynamics in the root volume depend on the
physicochemical characteristics of the soil or substrate and their interactions, which affect crop yield and the
efficiency in the use of fertilizers (Rietra et al., 2017). The above supposes concentration responses in plant and
fruit tissue that may differ with the phenological stage and with the input levels through the irrigation conduits.
Although there is vast information on balanced fertilization formulas for soilless crops, some growers make
modifications to these formulas for different purposes, for example, to obtain a better productivity of tomato
fruit, it is possible to increase the electrical conductivity according to greenhouse CO2 enrichment (800-1000
µl L-1) without negative effect on quality fruit; such practices often emerge from experience and have good
results (Hemming et al., 2020). The objective of this work was to determine ionic concentration ranges of the
petiole as well as the relationship with the concentration of the same ions in the nutrient solution and fruits of
mini tomatoes in a high-tech greenhouse.

2. Methods, techniques, and instruments

Several field studies were conducted to determine ionic concentration ranges as well as the interaction of ions
present in nutrient solution from drippers with the petiole cell extract (PCE) and the fruit cell extract (FCE) in
a commercial tomato crop «Grape» type cv. Amai (Sakata seed Co.), Plum type cv. Savantas (here denoted as
«Savantas») (Enza Zaden seed company), and on the vine type cv. Extensa (here denoted as «Tov») (Enza Zaden
seed company) established in a coconut fiber plate substrate (Pelemix, Guadalajara, México) in a high-tech
greenhouse under a fertilization formula protected by the trading house. The adjustment of the nutritive
solution was carried out automatically based on the data from the CO 2 sensors obtained inside the greenhouse
and the detailed chemical analysis of the drainage water in the coconut fiber plate; the producer was able to
submit a request to change the composition, EC and pH. The greenhouse is located in an agricultural production
site with coordinates 20°23'18.71” N and 102°57'29.96” W, where 168 sample collections were made from July
2013 to March 2014. Sample collection was carried from 08:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A total of 56 samples per variety
(23 drippers, 23 PCE, and 10 FCE) were collected. Monitoring was carried out at intervals of 15 days. The
dripper solution samples were collected in 4.5 L capacity containers directly from the drippers.
The petiole cell extract samples were collected according to the procedure suggested by Cadahia
(2008): 25 petioles were collected from the youngest fully developed leaves numbered three, four, and five from
the apex. Each plant was considered a sampling unit and was randomly selected from 1 Ha field. The cell extract
samples were obtained by separating the petiole from the leaf blades and placing them in a manual press to
break the tissues to collect cell juice. The fruit cell extract samples were obtained from the juice of four fruits
squeezed with a press to get a representative homogeneous sample.

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Ions, nutritional variables in the dripper solution, petiole cell extract, and fruit cell extract were
analyzed with portable equipment. Electrical Conductivity (EC) was measured with a conductivity meter
(Horiba Spectrum Cardy Twin), pH was measured with a potentiometer (Hanna HI98130), Ca 2+, NO3-, K+, and
Na+ were analyzed with Horiba ion-selective electrodes in different models according to the ions (B751, B743,
B731, and B722, respectively). Before each measurement start, two-point calibration (150 and 2000 mg L-1)
was conducted using standard solutions provided by the manufacturer. Total soluble solids (TSS)
determination was carried out with an OTAMA refractometer.
Data obtained were processed to assess the ionic concentration ranges of the dripper solution and the
petiole and fruit cell extracts. These were obtained from the interquartile range Q1-Q3 (first and third
quartiles), in which 50 % of the values closest to the median are included. They were organized in seasonal
correspondence according to the number of weeks after transplantation (WAT). Pearson's correlations
between dripper concentrations with PCE and FCE concentrations were calculated for the three varieties. A
heat map with dendrograms was constructed to unify identical profiles using the software R version 4.0.4 (Free
Software Foundation, Boston, MA, USA) to compare the intensity profiles of the correlations between variables
in the winter stage. Standardized principal component analysis was carried out using SPSS v25.0 statistical
software (IBM SPSS Statistics. IBM Corp., Chicago, IL). Single asterisks (*) in results indicate significant
differences at probability p <0.05, while double asterisks (**) indicate significant differences at probability p
<0.01.

3. Results and discussion

Table 1 shows all variable values recorded for the nutrient solution of the drippers, petiole cell extract (PCE),
and fruit cell extract (FCE) in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for Grape, Savantas, and Tov varieties.
The observed pH and EC values in the dripper solution were compared to those reported for intensive crop
production optimal ranges (Bar-Yosef, 2008; Cadahia, 2005). Concentration ranges for NO3- (655-1600 mg L-1)
and K+ (131-642 mg L-1) ions obtained in the solution of the drippers were higher than values by others authors
for tomato production in a coconut fiber plate substrate (Sanjuan-Delmás et al., 2020). Ca2+ (75-815 mg L-1)
registered higher values from 1 to 7 weeks after transplanting (WAT) compared to weeks 8 to 38 (WAT), while
Na+ registered a tolerable range for tomato established in a coconut fiber plate substrate (<650 mg L-1)
(Georgieva and Slavov, 2016). Similarly, the obtained ranges of PCE ions were higher than the sufficiency ranges
reported for NO3- (700-1200 mg L-1) and K+ (3500-5000 mg L-1) but lower for Ca2+ (280-1420 mg L-1)
(Hochmuth, 2004) and within a tolerable range for Na+ (<400 mg L-1) (Giuffrida et al., 2009). Ca2+ contents in
PCE presented a pronounced decrease over time, showing similar trend to the dripper solution. The high
concentrations of the ions are attributed to greenhouse CO2 enrichment and consequently the automatic
adjustment in the concentration of the supplied nutrient solution. Greenhouse CO 2 enrichment is a technique
that allows the increase in crop yields. Growers highlight this technique to mitigate the negative effects of
salinity on the productivity of high-value tomatoes (Sánchez-González et al., 2016). There were no apparent
problems during the production of the three mini tomato varieties in this study. The yield of the Grape, Savantas,
and Tov cultivars in a high-tech greenhouse was 231-, 447- and 509-ton Ha-1 respectively.

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Table 1. Ionic concentration ranges in the dripper solution (D), petiole cell extract (PCE), and fruit cell extract
(FCE) in Grape, Savantas, and Tov cultivars («Solanum lycopersicum L.»).
Tabla 1. Rango de concentración de los iones en la solución de los goteros (D), extracto celular de peciolo (PCE), y
extracto celular de fruto (FCE) en los cultivares Grape, Savantas, y Tov («Solanum lycopersicum L.»).

EC (dS m-1) pH NO3- K+ Ca2+ Na+ TSS

(°Brix)
-------------------------------mg L-1--------------------
Grape cv.
Summer D †2.1-2.5‡ 5.2-6.5 801-1100 227-415 516-768 69-236
(WAT 2-7) PCE 5.2-6.3 5525-8688 4363-6663 178-256 130 - 261 2.4-3.0
Autumn
(WAT 8-16) D 2.4-2.8 4.8-5.4 971-1325 131-452 325-465 151-297
PCE 4.7-5.5 3175-4788 3113-6863 108-192 151-275 2.7-3.8
Winter
(WAT 18-38) D 2.5-2.6 5.6-6.4 735-1600 275-405 99-510 67-105
PCE 5.2-5.6 4100-6600 3950-6750 25-55 88-155 2.1-2.7
FCE 2.7-3.4 120-442 2075-3375 2.0-3.0 40-63 5.5-8.0

Savantas cv.
Summer D 2.0-2.3 5.2-6.7 800-1100 372-465 462-732 93-167
(WAT 2-7) PCE 5.4-6.2 4750-7350 5425-6450 167-315 120-232 2.8-3.0
Autumn
(WAT 8-16) D 1.3-2.4 5.1-5.6 857-1100 220-432 197-425 100-265
PCE 4.9-5.4 1875-4475 7700-9275 110-170 110-232 3.0-4.0

Winter D 2.3-2.5 5.3-6.2 1200-1400 277-420 94-292 72-112

(WAT 18-38) PCE 4.9-5.6 4550-8100 4800-7050 36-167 92-150 1.9-3.0
FCE 3.2-3.7 102-277 1825-2575 2.0-5.0 28-46 3.4-4.3
Tov cv.
Summer D 1.7-2.1 5.4-6.3 655-997 282-447 429-815 85-175
(WAT 1-5) PCE 5.1-6.3 3375-6175 5125-7075 200-452 127-187 2.0-2.6
Autumn
(WAT 6-14) D 1.9-2.3 5.0-5.7 830-1075 370-642 140-307 97-240
PCE 4.5-5.6 2025-3875 6400-9300 125-392 149-240 2.8-3.7
Winter
(WAT 16-36) D 2.2-2.4 5.2-6.2 805-1400 250-387 75-307 68-97
PCE 4.8-5.5 5125-7825 4775-6625 46-195 112-167 2.0-2.7
FCE 3.2-3.7 82-220 1700-2100 2.0-5.7 27-44 3.0-4.0
†=Quartile 1. = ‡Quartile 2.
WAT = Weeks After Transplant.

Table 2 shows the Pearson correlations between mineral content in PCE and FCE for the mineral content in the
solution of drippers for the three varieties. The concentration of K+ and Na+ in PCE presented a strong positive
correlation with the concentration of the same ions in the dripper solution during the summer season for the
three varieties. Slight reductions in correlations were observed for the autumn and winter seasons. Similarly,
the pH of PCE showed strong correlations with the pH of the dripper solution; the correspondence of these
variables (K+ and pH) in the PCE with the concentration registered in the drippers shows strong positive linear
correspondence (> r2 = 0.89). The above means that «Grape», «Savantas», and «Tov» tomato cultivars
established in coconut fiber uptake ions without restrictions. Some research has found that, at the cellular level,
high-affinity potassium transporters can also function as Na +/K+ symporters and as selective Na+ uniporters

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(Apse et al., 2007). The research opens the possibility that the mini tomato varieties studied here have
accumulated Na+ and K+ simultaneously by such a mechanism. Studies on tomato plants have shown that plant
growth increases with high K+ and Na+ contents, even more than when only K+ is present (Georgieva and Slavov,
2016). Similarly, although less critical, strong significant positive correlations for Na + content in FCE with Na+
present in the dripper solution were registered (table 2). Several crops are known to translocate low relatively
low Na+ concentrations to reproductive or storage structures, such as seeds, fruits, or storage roots. On several
crops vegetative structures such as leaves and petioles maintained mainly by xylem flow tend to accumulate
Na+ at reasonably high levels without adversely affecting fruit productivity or quality (Subbarao et al., 2003). In
this study, the mini tomato plant showed low concentration levels of Na + in FCE compared to PCE.

Table 2. Correlations between ions in the dripper solution (D), petiole cell extract (PCE), and fruit cell extract
(FCE) for Grape, Savantas, and Tov cultivars («Solanum lycopersicum L.»).
Tabla 2. Correlaciones entre los iones en la solución de los goteros (D), extracto celular de peciolos (PCE), y
extracto celular de frutos (FCE) para los cultivares Grape, Savantas, y Tov («Solanum lycpersicum L.»).
Grape cv. Savantas cv. Tov cv.
--------------------------------------------------Summer--------------------------------------------
D_EC Vs PCE_TSS 0.02 -0.29 -0.37
D_pH Vs PCE_pH 0.83** 0.80** 0.98**
D_NO3 Vs PCE_NO3
- - -0.68* -0.33 0.12
D_K+ Vs PCE_K+ 0.81** 0.95** 0.80**
D_Ca2+ Vs PCE_Ca2+ 0.29 -0.05 0.32
D_Na Vs PCE_Na
+ + 0.87** 0.92** 0.92**
------------------------------------------------Autumn--------------------------------------------
D_EC Vs PCE_TSS 0.84** 0.37 -0.17
D_pH Vs PCE_pH 0.36 0.42 0.31
D_NO3- Vs PCE_NO3- -0.16 -0.24 -0.40
D_K Vs PCE_K
+ + 0.69* -0.35 0.73**
D_Ca2+ Vs PCE_Ca2+ -0.01 0.32 0.18
D_Na Vs PCE_Na
+ + 0.81** 0.77** 0.70**
------------------------------------------------Winter----------------------------------------------
D_EC Vs PCE_TSS -0.32 0.19 0.22
D_pH Vs PCE_pH 0.33 0.60** 0.49*
D_NO3- Vs PCE_NO3- 0.52* 0.47* 0.02
D_K Vs PCE_K
+ + 0.50* 0.59** 0.48*
D_Ca2+ Vs PCE_Ca2+ 0.34 0.64** 0.63**
D_Na+ Vs PCE_Na+ 0.66** 0.49* 0.67**
D_EC Vs FCE_TSS 0.30 -0.04 0.01
D_pH Vs FCE_pH -0.12 0.20 0.48*
D_NO3 Vs FCE_NO3
- - 0.53* 0.37 0.52*
D_K+ Vs FCE_K+ 0.20 0.37 0.32
D_Ca2+ Vs FCE_Ca2+ 0.37 0.44 0.83**
D_Na Vs FCE_Na
+ + 0.73** 0.77** 0.82**
*p ≤ 0.05.
**p ≤ 0.01.

On the other hand, the NO3- concentration in PCE showed low correlations with the concentrations registered
in the dripper solution. The above occurred with NO3- concentrations in the PCE in winter that were notably
higher than those registered in summer-autumn and with low Ca2+ concentrations in the PCE due to low
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Ionic sufficiency of the nutrient solution and effects on the total soluble solids concentration in mini tomatoes

supplies in the dripper solution. (table 1 and 2). In this regard, it has been documented that the dynamics of
NO3- in PCE result from other factors that can modify its concentration, from fertilizer applications, light
intensity, phenological stage, or samples of plant tissue (Llanderal et al., 2020). The high content of NO 3- in
tomato PCE during the autumn-winter seasons, when the days are shorter, and the intensity of light is lower
than in summer months, has been attributed to the decrease in the synthesis of carboxylic acids and soluble
carbohydrates, which are used as metabolic pool (sink) of NO 3- (Leyva et al., 2005). Calcium content of plants
generally increases with an increase in external Ca2+ supply (Dayod et al., 2010). Higher proportions of NO3- (4
%) with respect to calcium (2 %) have also been observed in the foliar dry biomass of tomato plants (Hochmuth
et al., 2004). The above assumes that the proportions of Ca2+ to NO3- found in dry tissue is proportional to that
found in fresh tissue.
According to the previous results, we found it interesting to analyze the profile of correlations between
the ions from the three different sources (D, PCE and FCE); obtaining FCE was only possible in the harvest stage
that began in the winter season. Figure 1 shows a general profile of Pearson correlations for ions present in the
PCE and the FCE with the ions registered in the dripper solution for three tomato varieties during weeks 20-38
(WAT) (winter). The intensities of the colored bands denote values from lowest to highest. These values range
from green to yellow and, finally, to red. The closeness of dendrograms suggests similar and significant patterns
or behaviors. In figure 1 ions in the PCE and the FCE were positively and negatively interrelated with the
concentrations of ions in the dripper solution. Notably, the closeness in pairs between the profiles of NO 3--Na+
and K+-pH from drippers in winter can be appreciated. In particular, the concentration of NO3- and Na+
registered in the drippers showed high intensity with the concentration of Na + in FCE and PCE for the three
cultivars (figure 1A to 1C). The increasing uptakes of Na+ by tomato plants in the presence of high levels of NO3-
in the nutrient solution has been attributed to the affinity between both ions, but opposite situation occurs
when Na+ is accompanied by others ions in the nutrient solution, such Cl - (Georgieva and Slavov, 2016). The
inability of tomato to control Na+ uptake in roots, and its translocation to the higher vegetative parts, has also
been observed in other crops, which is associated with a decrease in the uptake of K + (Georgieva and Slavov,
2016).

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Winter
Summer-autumn

Figure 1. Heat map of the Pearson correlations of the ions in the dripper solution (D), petiole cell extract (PCE),
and fruit cell extract (FCE) in the summer-winter stage of tomato cultivars («Solanum lycopersicum L.»). (*p ≤
0.05, **p ≤ 0.01). TSS = Total Soluble Solids.
Figura 1. Mapa de calor de las correlaciones de Pearson de los iones en la solución de los goteros (D), extracto
celular de peciolo (PCE), y extracto celular de frutos (FCE) en las estaciones verano-invierno de los cultivares de
tomate («Solanum lycopersicum L.»). (*p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.01). TSS = Sólidos Solubles Totales.

On the other hand, pH, concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ registered in the drippers showed high intensities with
the TSS from FCE, but not from PCE (figure 1B and 1C). The observed pH values in summer-autumn and winter
suggested that the levels of total soluble solids with the pH in mini tomato fruits were linked to the
concentrations of K+ and Ca2+ ions in the nutrient solution (figure 1A to 1F), but not to NO3-; which, in accordance
with high levels of Na+ from drippers, were low intensity with the pH and K+ of the PCE and FCE (figure 1A to
1C). However, the closeness in pairs between the profiles of PCE_pH and PCE_NO 3- in summer-autumn can be
appreciated (figure 1D to 1F). Given this, a multivariate analysis of the relationship of the ions of the three
tomato cultivars in the summer-winter season was carried out (figure 2).

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Figure 2. Main components of the ions in the dripper solution (D), petiole cell extract (PCE), and fruit cell extract
(FCE) in the summer-winter stage of tomato cultivars («Solanum lycopersicum L.»). TSS = Total Soluble Solids; EC
= Electrical Conductivity.
Figura 2. Componentes principales de los iones de los iones en la solución de los goteros (D), extracto celular de
peciolos (PCE), y extracto celular de frutos (FCE) en la estación verano-invierno de los cultivares de tomate
(«Solanum lycopersicum L.»). TSS = Solidos Solubles Totales; EC; Conductividad Electrica.

Through the components it was possible to form groups, in summer-autumn the NO3- in PCE was found in close
proximity to the pH of the dripper solution and PCE. In the winter season, the group headed by FCE and PCE
soluble solids and EC was presented in opposite situation with Ca 2+ content in PCE and FCE (figure 2A). At the
same time, the groups of nitrate and sodium presented in opposite situation to the group potassium and pH
confirm the importance of taking care of the K+/NO3- ratio since the increase in K+ cation will contribute the

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increase of EC and NO3- anion will cause a reduction of the PCE_pH and therefore in the FCE_pH (figure 2B).
Given the latter, it has been documented that significantly higher contributions of K + in the nutrient solution,
compared to standard fertilization formulas, allowed to obtain better fruit quality in Hana variety tomato plants
(Fandi et al., 2010). In fertigated tomato with two potassium source, fruit firmness, and freshness of calyx were
significantly improved under controlled greenhouse (Chapagain et al., 2003). K+ is attributed to play a
fundamental role in the discharge of sugars from phloem and maintenance of cytosolic pH in foliage of plants
(Rogiers et al., 2017; Balotf & Kavoosi, 2011), however, in the face of gradual increases in potassium
contributions to the soil, sugar content in fruits increases, but pH decreases (Javaria et al., 2012). Another
important aspect is the presence of soluble salts in soluble fertilizers, especially those that are higher in
nitrogen, which tend to be made with sodium nitrate. Sodium nitrate is a naturally occurring nitrogen
compound that are higher in Na+; is used extensively by organic farmers. When sodium nitrate dissolves in
nutrient solution, the sodium ion is available for plant uptake and can be problematic for some crops (Miles et
al., 2012).

4. Conclusions
The ion concentration ranges recorded in the PCE suggest approximations to the ionic concentration ranges
sufficiency for the mini tomato crop in high-tech greenhouses. The concentration of NO3- and K+ ions in the
nutrient solution in the summer-winter play an important role in maintaining the nutrient levels in the petiole
and fruit cell extract.

5. Supplementary information
No.

6. Acknowledgements
This research was funded by TRADECORP MEXICO.

Authors Information
Adalberto Benavides Mendoza 1 orcid.org/0000-0002-2729-4315
Karim de Alba Romenus 2 orcid.org/0000-0001-5590-6094
Jorge Francisco León de la Rocha 3 orcid.org/0000-0001-7063-8382
Willian Alfredo Narváez Ortiz 1 orcid.org/0000-0002-3281-6683
Nazario Francisco Francisco 3 orcid.org/0000-0001-5367-1631

Contribution of the authors in the development of the work

Narváez O. W. A.: Conceptualization. Narváez O. W. A. and León R. J. F.: Research. Francisco F. N.: Formal Analysis
and Writing. de Alba R. K.: Review and Editing. Benavides M. A.: Coordination and Funding Acquisition.

Interest conflict
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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