Twenty nine processing tomato inbred lines were evaluated for their efficiency in nutrient uptake and in their response to fertilization. Two field assays were carried out at Embrapa Hortaliças, Brazil, with distinct fertilization dosages in 2006. In the first assay 1/3 of the total fertilization was applied when compared with the second assay. The experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications. The criteria to rank the inbred lines in both assays were the DRIS (Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System) index value and fruit yield. The critical values in order to distinguish efficient versus non-efficient as well as responsive versus non-responsive inbred lines were the average increase in both DRIS index value and fruit yield. Differences were detected among inbred lines for the uptake efficiency for all nutrients and for response to fertilization. The inbred lines 03, 40, 09 and 22 were classified as responsive to fertilization and efficient in N uptake; the lines 03, 04, 09, 13, 15 and 29 were for P; 03, 05, 10, 21, 22, 25 and 27 for K, 05, 10, 21, 22, 25, 27 and 29 for Ca; 04, 13, 15, 27 and 29 for S and B; 03, 05, 09, 10 and 27 for Cu. The inbred lines with the best performance were 27 in relation to nutrient absorption, and the lines 03, 04, 05 and 29 in relation to fertilization response.
Solanum lycopersicum; DRIS; plant nutrition; breeding
