Objective The study aimed to investigate the effects of inorganic nutrient solution with bacterial manure on the yield, quality and adversity-resistance physiology of hydroponic cherry tomato.

Method Four treatments of inorganic nutrient solution with microbial fertilizer were set up, including 100% inorganic nutrient solution and 0% microbial fertilizer (T1, CK), 100% inorganic nutrient solution and 0.1% microbial fertilizer (T2), 90% inorganic nutrient solution and 0.1% microbial fertilizer (T3) and 80% inorganic nutrient solution and 0.2% microbial fertilizer (T4), and the yield, quality and related morphological and physiological indicators of cherry tomato were determined.

Result The single plant yield of cherry tomato was increased by applying microbial fertilizer. The single plant yield of T2 (684.19 g) was significantly higher than that of T1 (425.97 g), increasing by 60.62%. The single plant yields of T3 and T4 were 518.93 g and 472.37 g, slightly higher than that of T1. Under T2 treatment, the soluble solid content of mature fruit (9.17%) was slightly higher than that of T1 (9.00%), T3 (8.83%) and T4 (8.40%). The V_C content (46.14 mg/100g) and hardness (0.91 kg/cm²) of mature fruits under T2 treatment were significantly higher than those in other treatments. Under T2 treatment, the content of free proline and the activities of SOD, POD and CAT in leaves during the whole growth period (14 d, 28 d, 42 d, 56 d and 70 d) were at a high level.

Conclusion The addition of 0.1% bacterial manure to the inorganic nutrient solution can increase the yield, improve the exterior quality and nutritional quality of hydroponic cherry tomato fruit and enhance the adversity-resistance of cherry tomato plants.