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An experiment investigated the effects of two rates of irrigation, one of which reflected a substantial degree of water stress, on the mineral content, free amino acid levels and incidence of blossom-end rot (BER) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. `Durinta'). The plants were grown in the open with drip irrigation using saline water from a well (mean EC_w 5.2 dS m²¹). The yield per plant was higher and fewer fruit were affected by BER in the treatment involving the higher level of irrigation. The fruit of the first and fifth truss, and the leaves immediately above, were analysed for their macronutrient, micronutrient and free amino acid content. The macronutrient leaf and fruit content hardly showed any difference, only the N concentration in fruit being significantly affected in the water stressed plants, in which the levels were higher. The Ca concentration in the stylar portion of mature fruit, which is related with the …