Method for increasing lycopene content in tomato cultivation and application thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a method for increasing lycopene content in tomato planting and its application, comprising the following steps: spraying magnesium fertilizer on the leaf surface of tomato at the fruit setting period, fruit enlargement period and fruit color changing period, and using the first concentration, the second concentration and the third concentration of the adjuvant on the leaf surface respectively to promote the retention of magnesium fertilizer on the leaf surface of tomato, thereby increasing the lycopene content in the growth process of tomato. The method can increase the yield of tomato in tomato planting, especially keep the magnesium element on the leaf surface to promote the fruit color changing in advance, and significantly increase the beneficial ingredients lycopene in tomato. The method can be applied to produce lycopene, and based on the extraction method, the lycopene of the tomato fruit produced by the method can improve the yield of the extraction method, reduce the extraction price, and promote the technical progress of the extraction method for producing lycopene.

Description

[0001] Divisional Statement

[0002] The original basis of the divisional application is patent application No. 202210424530.3, filed on April 20, 2022, with the title of "A Magnesium Fertilizer, Its Preparation Method and Its Application in Tomato Planting". TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the field of plant cultivation technology, in particular to a magnesium fertilizer, its preparation method and its application in tomato planting. BACKGROUND

[0004] In the process of agricultural development, fertilizers play a crucial role. With the continuous improvement of agricultural production technology, the application of fertilizers in China tends to develop towards nutrient balance. From the excessive application of high-concentration macronutrient fertilizers in the early stage to the current stage, people gradually realize the important influence of medium and trace elements on crop yield and quality.

[0005] Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Miller) is the largest vegetable crop in China's facility cultivation, with extremely high nutritional value and health care function (Liu Wei et al., 2006). Cherry tomato is both a vegetable and a fruit, with a growth cycle of 110 to 170 days, and is an important economic crop. Lycopene is a carotenoid with extremely strong antioxidant capacity in nature, and its biological activity is generally stronger than other carotenoids, with important biological functions such as antioxidant, blood lipid-lowering, anticancer, and immune enhancement (Zhu Yuan, 2020). Lycopene, as one of the most important nutritional qualities of tomato, is an important indicator for the quality evaluation of tomato, and plays an important role in the economic value improvement of tomato (Dumas et al., 2003).

[0006] Current technologies primarily aim to increase lycopene content in tomatoes by improving planting methods or using gene editing. Gene editing alters the genetic material of tomatoes, posing a risk of gene drift during field cultivation. Improvements to existing planting methods often involve special seed treatment before seedling cultivation. For example, CN109220615A discloses a planting method to increase lycopene content, including: soaking seeds in a seed-soaking solution in a magnetic field environment; irradiating, drying, and spraying the seeds with white vinegar; followed by sowing; and alternating treatment of tomato seedlings with different frequencies and sound waves to increase lycopene content. CN107667605A discloses a seed treatment method to increase lycopene content in tomatoes, including: soaking seeds sequentially in borax solution, pullulan polysaccharide solution, and citric acid chelated copper solution, followed by electric field treatment; this promotes lycopene synthesis and accumulation after sowing, increasing tomato yield. The two existing technologies mentioned above require seeds to grow and develop into plants after treatment, which involves a long growth process. During this period, there are many environmental factors that may affect the growth of the plants and the quality of the fruits, such as water, fertilizer, and temperature. The effect of increasing the lycopene content in tomato fruits is difficult to determine, and the impact on other qualities of the fruits is also unclear. Furthermore, the seed treatment process is very complex, and the solutions, magnetic fields, and electric fields used are not common. The treatment conditions are harsh and not conducive to widespread use.

[0007] Magnesium is one of the essential nutrients for crop growth, considered by soil scientists as the fourth most important nutrient after nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Its content in plants is approximately 0.1%–0.5%, comparable to phosphorus (Lu Jingling, 1994; Wang Hong, 1999). Magnesium participates in important physiological processes such as photosynthesis and carbohydrate distribution in plants, is a highly active component in metabolism, and is a basic element in the formation of many enzymes. It is also related to the formation of proteins and starches (Cao Gong, 2003; Chen et al., 2018). The magnesium content in Chinese soils shows a gradual decreasing trend from north to south and from west to east. Numerous studies indicate that magnesium deficiency is widespread in crops in southern regions. Although the magnesium concentration in northern soils is relatively high, the problem of magnesium deficiency in northern crops is also becoming increasingly serious due to improper fertilization practices in actual agricultural production that interfere with plant magnesium absorption and frequent irrigation during greenhouse cultivation leading to magnesium leaching losses (Bai Youlu et al., 2002; Shaul, 2002; Gransee and Fuhrs, 2013). In recent years, magnesium, as an essential nutrient element for plant growth, has gradually gained attention, leading to increased research on magnesium fertilizers. However, the vast majority of magnesium application trials aim to alleviate magnesium deficiency symptoms in crops, with very few studies investigating the effects of foliar application of magnesium fertilizer on important evaluation indicators of crop fruit quality and ripening time. Although previous studies have investigated the effects of magnesium fertilizer on the coloring of fruits such as lychee, citrus, and peach, the underlying mechanisms have not been explored in depth.

[0008] For example, CN104355822A discloses a tomato-specific yield-increasing fertilizer, comprising 5 parts of plant lactic acid bacteria liquid, 30-50 parts of dried pig manure, 25-35 parts of wood ash, 20-30 parts of sugarcane bagasse, 30-40 parts of traditional Chinese medicine extract residue, 1-5 parts of tomato auxin, 2-8 parts of zinc sulfate, 2-6 parts of magnesium sulfate, 1-7 parts of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.2-0.8 parts of ethephon, 0.1-0.5 parts of rotenone, and 0.3-0.7 parts of yeast selenium. Although this formula contains magnesium sulfate, it contains a large number of other ingredients, and the yield-increasing effect of magnesium sulfate is not highlighted, nor is the mechanism of action of magnesium sulfate in increasing yield disclosed; furthermore, the main function of this formula is to increase yield and the weight of individual fruits, and its effect of advancing tomato fruit coloring is not disclosed.

[0009] Patent CN113354488A discloses a method for preparing a chemically synthesized water-soluble fertilizer specifically for different growth stages of tomatoes, belonging to the field of chemical fertilizer production technology. This method uses agricultural monoammonium phosphate, agricultural potassium chloride, urea, etc., as main raw materials, and prepares a chemically stable, fully crystalline water-soluble fertilizer through chemical polymerization and other methods, based on the nutrient absorption patterns of tomatoes at different growth stages. In the paper "The Significance and Method of Foliar Spraying Magnesium and Zinc on Greenhouse Tomatoes," Shi Ruyue et al. disclosed a technical solution of applying magnesium fertilizer before the first fruit cluster expands and using 1%-2% magnesium sulfate as foliar topdressing to promote fruit yield and quality improvement. In the paper "The Significant Effect of Magnesium Application on Quality Improvement and Yield Increase in Greenhouse Tomatoes," Fei Chao et al. disclosed a technical solution of applying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer as foliar fertilizer before flowering to increase tomato yield. However, the above scheme only provides the application of magnesium fertilizer (such as magnesium sulfate) in the tomato growth process to improve quality and increase yield, but does not provide the specific application process and mechanism of magnesium fertilizer to regulate the content of specific components in tomatoes, such as increasing lycopene, sugar, protein and total amino acids that are beneficial to tomato quality, while reducing titratable acid and starch that are detrimental to tomato quality.

[0010] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this invention, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that the present invention does not possess the features of these prior art. On the contrary, the present invention already possesses all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0011] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a magnesium fertilizer comprising at least 0.5%-2% magnesium ions and water by mass. The magnesium fertilizer of this invention has a simple formulation, readily available materials, low operating costs, and is easy to prepare and use, resulting in good performance. This magnesium fertilizer can advance the coloring time of tomatoes, while simultaneously promoting the synthesis of ethylene by the tomatoes themselves, improving the taste and quality of tomatoes, and assisting in the promotion and sale of tomatoes.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the concentration of magnesium ions is 1%.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnesium ions are sourced from magnesium sulfate.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for changing the ethylene content during the color-changing period of tomatoes, comprising the following steps:

[0015] Apply the magnesium fertilizer as described above to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, the fruit enlargement stage, and the fruit color change stage.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnesium fertilizer increases the ethylene content and effect of tomatoes during the color-changing period by increasing the gene expression levels of ACC synthase ACS2 / 4, ethylene receptor ETR1 / 4, primary transcription factor EIN3 / EIL3, and secondary transcription factor ERF1.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnesium fertilizer can increase the content of beneficial components in tomatoes, such as lycopene, vitamin C, soluble solids, sugar, protein, and total amino acids, while reducing the content of unfavorable components that affect the taste of tomatoes, such as titratable acid and starch.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the magnesium fertilizer can increase the fruit yield of tomatoes and advance the coloring time of tomato fruits.

[0019] In another aspect, the present invention discloses a method for using magnesium fertilizer as described above, comprising the following steps:

[0020] Spray the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage;

[0021] Spray the leaves of tomatoes during the fruit enlargement stage;

[0022] Spray the leaves of tomatoes during the fruit ripening stage.

[0023] In another aspect, this invention discloses a tomato cultivation method, comprising at least the following steps:

[0024] During the second fruit set stage of tomatoes, spray the leaves with the magnesium fertilizer as described above.

[0025] During the fruit enlargement period of tomatoes, spray the leaves with the magnesium fertilizer as described above;

[0026] During the fruit ripening stage of tomatoes, spray the leaves with the magnesium fertilizer described above.

[0027] During the fruiting period of tomatoes, vegetative and reproductive growth occur simultaneously. To ensure robust plant growth and increase overall yield, farmers often remove the first cluster of fruit so that nutrients can be used to ensure the full development of the tomato plant. Therefore, the second cluster of fruit, as the first batch of marketable fruit, is very important for early market availability and profitability.

[0028] In another aspect, the present invention also discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in tomato cultivation as described above.

[0029] In another aspect, the present invention also discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer to enhance lycopene production in tomatoes, as described above.

[0030] In another aspect, this invention also discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing tomato yield.

[0031] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in improving tomato quality.

[0032] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in promoting ethylene production in tomatoes.

[0033] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in advancing fruit coloring.

[0034] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing the vitamin C content of tomatoes.

[0035] In another aspect, this invention also discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing the soluble solids content of tomatoes.

[0036] In another aspect, this invention also discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing the sugar content of tomatoes.

[0037] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing the protein content of tomatoes.

[0038] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in increasing the total amino acid content of tomatoes.

[0039] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in reducing the titratable acid content of tomatoes.

[0040] Another aspect of this invention discloses the application of magnesium fertilizer in reducing the starch content of tomatoes.

[0041] This application provides specific magnesium fertilizers and their application methods, types, application times, and concentrations, demonstrating that the method can improve crop quality indicators, especially lycopene content, with an increase of 65.3%. In addition, it clarifies that magnesium fertilizers alter the expression of some pathway genes in the fruit, thereby changing the ethylene content of the fruit, promoting earlier coloring and ripening, enabling tomatoes to be marketed 3-4 days earlier, and improving the economic benefits for fruit farmers. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a graph showing the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on tomato coloring.

[0043] Figure 3 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on tomato yield.

[0044] Figure 4 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the lycopene content in tomato fruits.

[0045] Figure 5 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the vitamin C content of tomatoes.

[0046] Figure 6The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the soluble solids content of tomatoes.

[0047] Figure 7 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the soluble sugar content of tomatoes.

[0048] Figure 8 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the soluble protein content of tomatoes.

[0049] Figure 9 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the total amino acid content of tomatoes.

[0050] Figure 10 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the titratable acid content of tomatoes.

[0051] Figure 11 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the starch content of tomatoes.

[0052] Figure 12 The graph shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the ethylene content of tomatoes.

[0053] Figure 13 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at the critical period on the relative expression level of the ACS2 gene in the tomato ethylene pathway.

[0054] Figure 14 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at the critical period on the relative expression level of the ACS4 gene in the tomato ethylene pathway.

[0055] Figure 15 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at the critical period on the relative expression level of the ETR1 gene in the ethylene pathway of tomato.

[0056] Figure 16 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at a critical period on the relative expression level of the ETR4 gene in the tomato ethylene pathway.

[0057] Figure 17 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at a critical period on the relative expression level of the EIN3 gene in the ethylene pathway of tomato.

[0058] Figure 18 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer at the critical period on the relative expression level of the EIL3 gene in the ethylene pathway of tomato.

[0059] Figure 19 The figure shows the effect of spraying 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer during the critical period on the relative expression level of the ERF1 gene in the ethylene pathway of tomatoes. Detailed Implementation

[0060] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1-19 Please provide a detailed explanation.

[0061] Example 1

[0062] Magnesium, as a component of chlorophyll and an activator of various enzymes, participates in photosynthesis and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in crops. Magnesium promotes crop growth, increases yield, and improves product quality. Tomatoes often exhibit magnesium deficiency symptoms in the later stages of growth. Magnesium deficiency damages the phloem, the transport tissue that transfers photosynthetic products from leaves to root and stem tips, deepens the lignification of the transport tissue in roots and stems, affects the transport of photosynthetic products to the roots, and causes the accumulation of organic matter in the leaves. This weakens root absorption capacity, further affecting the absorption of other nutrients, thus impacting tomato yield and fruit quality. Therefore, magnesium fertilizer needs to be applied supplementally in the later stages of tomato growth to promote fruit setting.

[0063] In the cherry tomato growth cycle, the fruit-setting period is a critical time for the parallel development of vegetative and reproductive growth. Good nutrition at this stage promotes reproductive growth, improves bud quality and fruit set rate, and the plant's magnesium absorption gradually increases. The fruit enlargement period is a period of rapid fruit development, requiring a large amount of magnesium. Exogenous supplementation is needed to meet the plant's high magnesium needs and promote the translocation of assimilates to the fruit. During the color-changing period, the fruit gradually matures, and internal nutrients accumulate rapidly, especially lycopene. Studies have found that the rate of magnesium absorption by tomatoes increases rapidly during fruit setting and late ripening, accounting for 64.8% of the total absorption (Chu Yu, 2021). Therefore, foliar application of magnesium fertilizer during the mid-to-late stages of tomato growth, such as fruit setting, fruit enlargement, and color-changing, plays a crucial role in the growth of tomato plants and the improvement of fruit commercial quality. The magnesium content is highest in the stems during the vegetative growth stage and highest in the leaves during the reproductive growth stage, with highly significant differences in both (Chen Xiyu, 1994). Therefore, applying magnesium fertilizer via foliar spray during the reproductive growth stage of tomatoes can more quickly replenish magnesium on the leaves and promote reproductive growth.

[0064] This embodiment provides a magnesium fertilizer comprising 1% magnesium ions and the remainder water. Preferably, the magnesium ions are sourced from magnesium sulfate.

[0065] The magnesium fertilizer is prepared as follows: 10g of magnesium sulfate is weighed and added to 800mL of distilled water, and the volume is adjusted to 1000mL to obtain liquid magnesium fertilizer.

[0066] The magnesium fertilizer is applied as follows: Apply an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of the tomato plant during the second fruit set stage, the fruit enlargement stage, and the fruit color change stage. Preferably, the application rate is 1g magnesium sulfate per plant. Preferably, the tomato is a hybrid tomato.

[0067] The specific experimental process for applying the above-mentioned magnesium fertilizer to tomato cultivation is as follows:

[0068] 1. Materials and Methods

[0069] Location: Greenhouse, College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University.

[0070] Tomato variety: Red Saint. Seeds purchased from Jingyan Yinong (Beijing) Seed Technology Co., Ltd.

[0071] 1.1 Under normal fertilization conditions, the following treatments were performed:

[0072] (1) Treatment 1: Spray with clean water, 100 mL / plant;

[0073] (2) Treatment 2: Spray 1% magnesium sulfate fertilizer and add 0.02% surfactant Triton (X100) or organosilicon as an adjuvant, 100mL / plant.

[0074] Spraying should be carried out at the following times: (a) Period 1: Fruit setting period of the second cluster of tomatoes, that is, more than 50% of the fruits of the second cluster have set fruit (about 53 days after transplanting); (b) Period 2: Fruit enlargement period of the second cluster of tomatoes, that is, more than 50% of the fruits of the second cluster have visibly enlarged (about 70 days after transplanting); (c) Period 3: Color changing period of the second cluster of tomatoes, that is, more than 50% of the fruits of the second cluster have changed color (about 89 days after transplanting).

[0075] Topping of three spikelets.

[0076] Harvest time: When the second cluster of tomatoes is fully mature, i.e., when more than 80% of the fruits on the second cluster are fully mature (approximately 105 days after transplanting). Biological replicates: 7 (i.e., n=7).

[0077] The pot experiment used a randomized block design.

[0078] Tomatoes begin to show symptoms of magnesium deficiency during the second fruit enlargement stage. Therefore, applying magnesium fertilizer during the second fruit setting stage can timely replenish the nutrients needed for tomato plant and fruit growth, improve the photosynthetic efficiency of leaves, promote fruit growth and enlargement, thereby increasing tomato yield and improving fruit quality.

[0079] 2. Results and Analysis

[0080] 2.1 Phenotypic Analysis

[0081] The coloring and ripening of tomato trusses after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different times under normal fertilization conditions were analyzed. Figures 1-2The results showed that the number of colored tomatoes in the second truss treated with 1% magnesium sulfate increased by 77.8% at harvest compared to the control. Analysis of the proportion of colored second trusses during the growth period revealed that the magnesium-treated (Mg) second trusses changed color 3-4 days earlier than the control (CK). Multiple batches of cherry tomatoes and bright pink tomatoes treated with magnesium have also verified the significant effect of magnesium in promoting earlier fruit coloring in tomatoes.

[0082] 2.2 Production Analysis

[0083] The yield of tomatoes was analyzed after spraying magnesium sulfate at different times under normal fertilization conditions. For example... Figure 3 The results show that spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate significantly increased tomato yield by 12.8%.

[0084] 2.3 Lycopene Content Analysis

[0085] The lycopene content of tomato tassels after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions was analyzed. The results are as follows: Figure 4 As shown in the figure, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the lycopene content of the second cluster of tomatoes increased significantly by 65.3% compared with the control.

[0086] The main production processes for lycopene include microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis, and extraction. Extraction involves extracting lycopene from fresh tomatoes. However, due to the low lycopene content in tomatoes, natural extraction methods are characterized by low yields and high costs, failing to meet demand. The method described in this embodiment can increase the lycopene content of second-fleshed tomato fruits, improve the yield of natural extraction, reduce extraction costs, and promote technological advancements in lycopene production through natural extraction.

[0087] 2.4 Analysis of Vitamin C Content in Tomatoes

[0088] The vitamin C content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 5 As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the vitamin C content of the second cluster of tomato fruits increased significantly by 11.0% compared with the control.

[0089] 2.5 Analysis of soluble solids content

[0090] The soluble solids content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 6 As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the soluble solids content of the second cluster of tomato fruits increased significantly by 17.8% compared with the control.

[0091] 2.6 Analysis of soluble sugar content

[0092] The soluble sugar content of tomato second clusters was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 7 As shown: Compared with the control, the soluble sugar content of the second cluster of tomatoes increased significantly by 23.0% after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate.

[0093] 2.7 Analysis of soluble protein content

[0094] The soluble protein content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 8 As shown, compared with the control, spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate significantly increased the soluble protein content of tomato tassels by 25.3%.

[0095] 2.8 Analysis of total amino acid content

[0096] The total amino acid content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 9 As shown, spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate can significantly increase the total amino acid content of tomato tassels by 25.3%.

[0097] 2.9 Analysis of Titratable Acid Content

[0098] The titratable acid content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The experimental results are as follows: Figure 10 As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the titratable acid content of the second cluster of tomato fruits decreased significantly by 9.1% compared with the control.

[0099] 2.10 Starch Content Analysis

[0100] The starch content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 11 As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the starch content of the second cluster of tomato fruits decreased significantly by 11.4% compared with the control.

[0101] 2.11 Ethylene Content Analysis

[0102] The ethylene content of two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figure 12 As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the ethylene content of the second cluster of tomatoes increased significantly by 96.9% compared with the control.

[0103] 2.12 Gene Analysis of the Ethylene Pathway

[0104] The expression of ethylene pathway genes in two-tassel tomatoes was analyzed after spraying with magnesium sulfate at different time points under normal fertilization conditions. The results are as follows: Figures 13-19As shown, after spraying with 1% magnesium sulfate, the expression levels of the ethylene pathway genes ACS2, ACS4, ETR1, EIL3, and EIL3 in the second spike of tomato increased by 31.0 times, 15.0 times, 0.7 times, 1.8 times, and 8.8 times, respectively.

[0105] ACS2 and ACS4 belong to the ACC synthase genes, which are important genes in the ethylene synthesis pathway. Their post-transcriptional translation products catalyze the conversion of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid (ACC). ACC is then used for further ethylene synthesis. Increased ACS2 expression indicates that magnesium fertilizer promotes ethylene synthesis in tomatoes, accelerating their ripening process.

[0106] The increased expression levels of primary transcription factors EIN3 and EIL3 and secondary transcription factor ERF1 in tomatoes after magnesium fertilizer application indicate that magnesium fertilizer application can further activate the tomato's own ethylene signaling pathway.

[0107] The increased expression levels of ethylene receptors ETR1 and ETR4 in tomatoes after magnesium fertilizer application indicate that magnesium fertilizer application enhances the tomato's response to ethylene, further demonstrating that magnesium fertilizer application promotes tomato ripening.

[0108] In conclusion, under normal fertilization conditions, spraying magnesium sulfate at different times can enhance the activation of the ethylene synthesis pathway in tomatoes, promote the synthesis of endogenous ethylene, and improve the response of tomatoes to synthesized ethylene, thereby advancing the coloring period of tomatoes and improving the quality of tomato fruits.

[0109] Example 2

[0110] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to enhance lycopene production in tomatoes, as described above. Appropriate amounts of magnesium fertilizer are sprayed onto the tomato leaves during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage. Preferably, the spraying amount is 1g magnesium sulfate per plant. Preferably, the tomato is a hybrid tomato.

[0111] Using the aforementioned magnesium fertilizer can increase the lycopene content of tomato tassels, improve the yield of natural extraction and reduce extraction prices, promote technological progress in the production of lycopene through natural extraction, and facilitate the application of lycopene.

[0112] Example 3

[0113] This embodiment demonstrates the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase tomato yield as described above. Applying appropriate amounts of magnesium fertilizer to the tomato leaves during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage significantly increased tomato yield by 12.8%.

[0114] Example 4

[0115] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to improve tomato quality as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage can improve fruit quality, increase the content of beneficial components such as lycopene, vitamin C, soluble solids, sugar, protein, and total amino acids, and reduce the content of unfavorable components affecting tomato flavor, such as acid and starch.

[0116] Example 5

[0117] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to promote ethylene production in tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit coloring stage can significantly promote ethylene production from the second fruit cluster, enhance the tomato's response to ethylene, and thus advance the tomato coloring period by 3-4 days and improve fruit quality.

[0118] Example 6

[0119] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase the vitamin C content of tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage can significantly increase the vitamin C content of the second fruit clusters by 11.0%.

[0120] Example 7

[0121] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase the soluble solids content of tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage can significantly increase the soluble solids content of the second fruit clusters by 17.8%.

[0122] Example 8

[0123] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase the sugar content of tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage can significantly increase the soluble sugar content of the second fruit clusters by 23.0%.

[0124] Example 9

[0125] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase the protein content of tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage significantly increased the soluble protein content of tomatoes by 25.3%.

[0126] Example 10

[0127] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to increase the total amino acid content of tomatoes, as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage significantly increased the total amino acid content of the second fruit clusters by 25.3%.

[0128] Example 11

[0129] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer to reduce the acid content of tomatoes as described above. Applying an appropriate amount of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage resulted in a significant 9.1% reduction in the titratable acid content of the second fruit clusters compared to the control.

[0130] Example 12

[0131] This embodiment provides the application of magnesium fertilizer as described above for reducing the starch content of tomatoes. Applying appropriate amounts of magnesium fertilizer to the leaves of tomatoes during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage resulted in a significant 11.4% reduction in the starch content of the second fruit clusters compared to the control.

[0132] Example 13

[0133] This embodiment discloses a method for applying magnesium fertilizer as described in Example 1: During the second fruit set stage of tomatoes, a first concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer is sprayed; during the fruit enlargement stage of tomatoes, a second concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer is sprayed; and during the fruit coloring stage of tomatoes, a third concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer is sprayed. Preferably, the first concentration is lower than the second concentration. Preferably, the third concentration is lower than the second concentration but higher than the first concentration.

[0134] The inventors discovered that applying the above-mentioned concentration of magnesium fertilizer during the fruit setting, fruit enlargement, and fruit coloring stages of tomatoes can promote tomato plant growth while maintaining the quality of the second fruit cluster, which is beneficial to the development of the subsequent third fruit cluster.

[0135] Preferably, the first concentration has a mass fraction of 1%, the second concentration has a mass fraction of 1.5%, and the third concentration has a mass fraction of 1.2%. Applying the above concentrations of magnesium fertilizer at the above three stages of tomato growth can increase the lycopene content in the first three clusters of tomato fruit by 5% compared to applying the same concentration of magnesium fertilizer.

[0136] The inventors believe the specific reason may be that during the tomato fruit setting period to the fruit enlargement period, as reproductive growth gradually increases, gradually increasing the concentration of magnesium fertilizer spraying can ensure the effect of promoting fruit growth.

[0137] During the ripening stage of tomatoes, as the plant's growth begins to weaken, more fertilizers that promote stem and leaf growth are needed to promote vine growth and protect leaves. As a result, the vegetative growth of the tomato plant gradually recovers, while reproductive growth gradually weakens, and the demand for magnesium ions decreases slightly compared to the fruit enlargement stage.

[0138] Preferably, the method of use in this embodiment further includes extending the interval between foliar fertilizer application during consecutive cloudy days, with an interval of at least 17 days between applications, to avoid increasing air humidity by foliar fertilizer application, which would make tomato plants more susceptible to diseases.

[0139] Preferably, the magnesium sulfate fertilizer of this application can also be used in combination with an adjuvant to promote the retention of magnesium fertilizer on tomato leaves. Preferably, the adjuvant can be an organosilicon whose main component is a polyether-modified trisiloxane compound (TSS). Preferably, the concentration of the organosilicon adjuvant added to the magnesium fertilizer is 0.015% to 0.1% by mass.

[0140] Preferably, the concentrations of the magnesium fertilizer adjuvant added during the tomato fruit setting, fruit enlargement, and color-changing stages are the fourth, fifth, and sixth concentrations, respectively. Preferably, based on the inventors' above-mentioned findings, the fourth, fifth, and sixth concentrations are set such that the fourth concentration is lower than the fifth concentration, and the sixth concentration is lower than the fifth concentration but higher than the fourth concentration. This ensures that the concentration changes of the adjuvant are consistent with the magnesium requirements of tomatoes during the second fruit cluster setting, fruit enlargement, and fruit color-changing stages, reducing the adjuvant content to decrease the amount of magnesium fertilizer remaining on the tomato leaves and lowering the risk of increased phytotoxicity due to the addition of the adjuvant.

[0141] Preferably, the fourth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.018%, the fifth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.05%, and the sixth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.035%. This allows for a greater retention of magnesium fertilizer on the tomato leaves, resulting in higher utilization, while preventing phytotoxicity in the tomatoes.

[0142] Preferably, the method of use in this embodiment also includes supplementary spraying if there is rainfall within 3-4 hours after spraying.

[0143] Preferably, the adjuvant can also be Triton (X100). The concentrations of Triton (X100) adjuvant in the magnesium fertilizer sprayed during the tomato fruit setting, fruit enlargement, and color-changing stages are the seventh, eighth, and ninth concentrations, respectively. Preferably, based on the inventors' above findings, the seventh, eighth, and ninth concentrations are set such that the seventh concentration is less than the eighth concentration, and the ninth concentration is less than the eighth concentration but greater than the seventh concentration, so that the concentration changes of the adjuvant are consistent with the magnesium requirements of tomatoes during the second fruit cluster setting, fruit enlargement, and fruit color-changing stages.

[0144] Preferably, the seventh concentration has a mass fraction of 0.01%, the eighth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.02%, and the ninth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.015%. This increases the amount of magnesium fertilizer remaining on the tomato leaves and the utilization rate of magnesium fertilizer, while the tomatoes do not show any phytotoxicity.

[0145] It should be noted that the specific embodiments described above are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this invention, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this invention and its protection. Those skilled in the art should understand that this specification and its accompanying drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. This specification contains multiple inventive concepts; terms such as "preferredly," "according to a preferred embodiment," or "optionally" indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept. The applicant reserves the right to file divisional applications based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferredly" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A method for increasing lycopene content in tomato cultivation, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: During the second fruit set stage of tomatoes, spray with the first concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer; during the fruit enlargement stage of tomatoes, spray with the second concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer; during the fruit color change stage of tomatoes, spray with the third concentration of magnesium sulfate fertilizer. The first concentration has a mass fraction of 1%, the second concentration has a mass fraction of 1.5%, and the third concentration has a mass fraction of 1.2%. While applying magnesium fertilizer to the leaves during the second fruit set stage, fruit enlargement stage, and fruit color change stage of tomatoes, adjuvants at concentrations four, five, and six, respectively, can be used on the leaves to promote the retention of magnesium fertilizer on the tomato leaves, thereby increasing the lycopene content during tomato growth. The additive is an organosilicon containing at least a polyether-modified trisiloxane compound (TSS). The concentration (by mass fraction) of the organosilicon additive is 0.015%~0.1%. The fourth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.018%, the fifth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.05%, and the sixth concentration has a mass fraction of 0.035%.

2. The application of the method as described in claim 1 in the production of lycopene.

3. The application according to claim 2, characterized in that, The application is based on the extraction method to obtain lycopene from tomato fruit.

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