Tomato Hydroponic Culture Solution for High Sugar Without Yield Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydroponic cultivation methods using culture solutions with high sodium chloride concentrations face yield decreases, necessitating a method to enhance yield while maintaining or increasing sugar content in fruit vegetable plants like tomatoes.

Innovation Solution

A hydroponic cultivation method using a culture solution with a Si content of 60 ppm by mass or more, combined with sodium chloride, and an electrical conductivity of 4.0 dS/m or more, along with artificial light irradiation of 200 μmol/m²/s to 800 μmol/m²/s, particularly after flowering at the second fruit cluster level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a culture solution with high sodium chloride concentration is used to increase sugar content, then the sugar content of the harvested product increases, but the yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesugar contentVSAvoidyield

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the culture solution by adding silicate (Si) at concentrations of 60 ppm or more, while also controlling sodium chloride concentration and electrical conductivity (4.0 dS/m or more). This parameter modification allows the plant to accumulate sugar effectively without the negative yield effects typically caused by high salt concentrations alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite culture solution containing multiple components: silicate (60 ppm or more), sodium chloride (at controlled concentrations), and other essential nutrients. This composite formulation works synergistically to enhance sugar content while maintaining yield, resolving the contradiction between sugar accumulation and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If the salt concentration in the culture solution is increased to enhance product quality, then the sugar content increases, but the yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesugar contentVSAvoidyield

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the culture solution parameters by introducing silicate at 60 ppm or more and controlling electrical conductivity to 4.0 dS/m or more. This parameter optimization enables the plant to tolerate and utilize higher salt concentrations for sugar accumulation without suffering yield loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Silicate acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the harmful effects of high salt concentration and the beneficial effect of sugar accumulation. The silicate protects the plant from salt stress while enabling sugar synthesis, allowing both high sugar content and high yield to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If artificial light with high intensity is applied to increase photosynthesis and yield, then the yield increases, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveyieldVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes light intensity parameters to 200-800 μmol/m²/s, which is a moderate range that balances photosynthetic efficiency with energy consumption. Combined with the silicate-enhanced culture solution, this light parameter optimization achieves high yield without excessive energy use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The silicate-enriched culture solution enhances the plant's own photosynthetic efficiency and sugar accumulation capacity, allowing the plant to better utilize the provided light energy. This self-service mechanism improves yield per unit of energy input, reducing the overall energy consumption requirement for achieving high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method achieves a high yield and increases the sugar content in fruit vegetable plants, such as tomatoes, by optimizing the culture solution composition and light conditions, thereby improving cultivation efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

cultivating a fruit vegetable plant by a hydroponic method using a culture solution having a Si content of 60 ppm by mass or more

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

irradiating the fruit vegetable plant seedling with artificial light having an intensity of 200 μmol/m2/s to 800 μmol/m2/s

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Data Source

PatentUS20250386782A1Cultivation method for fruit vegetable plant, tomato, culture solution for hydroponic cultivation of fruit vegetable plant, and hydroponic cultivation device of fruit vegetable plant

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

Provided are a cultivation method for a fruit vegetable plant including cultivating a fruit vegetable plant by a hydroponic method using a culture solution having a Si content of 60 ppm by mass or more, a tomato, a culture solution for hydroponic cultivation of a fruit vegetable plant, and a hydroponic cultivation device of a fruit vegetable plant.