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The objective was to evaluate the effect of calcium silicate on the chlorophyll content and gas exchange of two tomato hybrids. The design used was in randomized blocks in a 2x5 factorial scheme, with four replications. The first factor was composed of two tomato hybrids: Ivety and Natália, and the second factor was composed of five doses of calcium silicate (0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 kg ha-1), applied to the substrate before planting the seedlings. Gas exchange: net CO2 assimilation rate (A), leaf transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (gs), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), water-use efficiency (WUE), intrinsic efficiency water use (iWUE), and instant carboxylation efficiency (ACi); SPAD index and the levels of chlorophylls a, b, and total were evaluated. The analyzes were performed in the stages of first flowering (17 days after transplanting - DAT), full flowering (58 DAT), and full fruiting (78 DAT). At 17 DAT, no difference was observed for gas exchange variables and photosynthetic pigments. The application of calcium silicate reduced gas exchange and photosynthetic pigments at 58 DAT. The hybrid Natália had the highest A, WUE, iWUE, and ACi at 78 DAT. However, the hybrid Ivety in the same growth stage, in full fruiting, was superior only for the internal concentration of CO2 and SPAD index, with no difference for photosynthetic pigments.

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The present work evaluated the influence of calcium silicate on the polygalacturonase enzyme activity, respiration, ethylene, and the physicochemical characteristics on the post-harvest quality of two tomato hybrids. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four repetitions in protected cultivation environment. The treatments were distributed in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to the hybrids (Ivety and Natalia) and five doses of calcium silicate (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 kg ha-1), which were applied on the same day as the pots were filled. Evaluations were carried out on the fruits, namely: ethylene production, fruit respiration, firmness, number of loculus, polygalacturonase activity, total carotenoids, lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content.  The application of calcium silicate provided the reduction of ethylene production and fruit respiration. Natalia hybrid showed low polygalacturonase activity, this difference being due to genetic variabilityThe increase of calcium silicate doses provided the reduction of polygalacturonase enzyme concentration due to its constitution in the cell wall. The concentrations of lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid in the fruits increased in response to the increasing doses of calcium silicate for 'Ivety'. Hybrids present distinct behaviors on the influence of the fertilization of tomatoes with calcium silicate, which can increase the post-harvest conservation and improve the physical-chemical characteristics of tomato fruits.