Abstract:

To study the response of tomato seedlings to water stress, the effect on chlorophyll fluorescence properties and chlorophyll content and the relative leaf water content. The results suggested that water stress lead to the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the photochemical quenching (qL) and the linear electron transport rate (ETR) decreased gradually. In contrast, the non photochemical quenching (NPQ) rose gradually. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters had dash jump phenomena on moderate water stress (the fourth day). Results showed a high correlation (-0.83) between the decreasing of soil water content (SWC) and NPQ. Hence, NPQ can be an indicator as a guide for irrigation. When NPQ was 2.095, SWC was lower than 32.1%, tomato seedlings were affect on water stress and should be irrigation timely.