Elucidation of the developmental mechanism of tomato intumescence and prediction of its occurrence

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06013
• 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: Fukushima University
• Principal Investigator: Miyama Yoko 福島大学, 食農学類, 准教授 (00502098)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: トマト / 水疱症 / 木部圧ポテンシャル / S/R比

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The incidence or rate of tomato intumescence was found to be highly positively correlated with the S/R ratio of tomato regardless of cultivar or growing conditions. This suggests that the S/R ratio can predict the occurrence of intumescence. It was also suggested that intumescence development could be reduced by decreasing the range of variation in xylem pressure potential of tomato caused by changes in soil moisture and humidity. The results of this study suggest that when the growing environment changes from dry to wet conditions, intumescence is caused by the breakdown of cell walls due to swelling pressure, which is caused by an imbalance between the water absorption rate from soil and the transpiration rate.

Free Research Field

園芸科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

水疱症はこれまで紫外線強度が低いときや高湿度条件が続くときに発生すると報告されていた。本研究ではトマト水疱症発生には水環境の変動にともなう木部圧ポテンシャルの変動が関与していると考えられた。また、水疱症発生前のトマトの形状（S/R比）から水疱症の発生が予測できる可能性を示唆した。
トマト水疱症は近年生産現場で成育・収量の低下をもたらすことから問題となっている。本研究成果は水疱症が発生しにくい植物体の育成方法や土壌水分や湿度等の水環境制御方法の構築に寄与できるものである。