Study on slowing down in the later stage of tomato fruit enlargement

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39030:Horticultural science-related
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Kataoka Keiko 愛媛大学, 農学研究科, 教授 (80204816)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: トマト / 果実肥大 / 低温 / 果皮の機械的強度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Tomato fruit growth and fruit skin tensile properties were investigated under low temperature conditions, Ethrel application, or salinity stress in the later stages of fruit growth in a ‘Micro Tom’ tomato variety. Low temperatures prolonged the ripening process and fruit growing continued resulting in a larger size even after pigmentation with photo assimilate influx. In addition to the longer ripening period, a slight restriction of water inflow owing to the elastic fruit skin might allow the fruit to expand under low temperatures.
Fruit growth was retarded three days after Ethrel treatment, but the fruit skin tensile properties were not changed. This means that the fruit skin tensile strength was not responsible for the retardation of fruit growth when treated with Ethrel. Similarly, the firmness because of salinity was not responsible for the reduced fruit growth, as the reduction of fruit size was observed earlier than the fruit skin changes.

Free Research Field

蔬菜花卉園芸学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

トマト果実肥大後期における果皮の引張特性を検討し，低温管理によって物理的特性が変化することを明らかにした．栽培温度による果実サイズ決定には，エスレルによる成熟促進や塩ストレスによる小果化とは異なるメカニズムが存在することが示唆された．