Effect of phosphoros nutrition in peat on tomato plant growth and fruit development

Summary The effect of P nutrition on the growth of tomato plants in peat was examined. Initially, plants received an adequate supply of P and then received either nil, 0.78 or 2.34 kg superphosphate per m³ in combination with either 50 g N/ml (N₁) or 300 g N/ml (N₂) as ammonium nitrate in a liquid feed. Vegetative growth was restricted in the lower P treatmentsi.e. inhibited shoot growth, reduced duration of leaf expansion phase, thinner stems and reduced vegetative dry wt. Plants receiving N₂ showed a greater restriction in growth compared with N₁ plants when the P supply was limiting. P deficiency disrupted protein metabolism in the leaves, in that soluble leaf protein was reduced and trichloroacetic acid-soluble N accumulated. Flower development was accelerated by low P applications but the final numbers of flowers and the fruit-setting efficiency were reduced. Lowering the N supply reduced the fruit yield by 36 per cent while an intermediate P level reduced yields by about 15 per cent. Maximum fruit yields and good vegetative growth occurred when plants contained 0.4 per cent P or above in the mature leaves, and this value was achieved by adding the highest level (2.34 kg/m³) of superphosphate to the peat.     

Uptake and distribution of potassium in tomato plants

Summary The uptake and distribution of potassium was examined in tomato plants, cv. Amberley Cross and Moneymaker, grown in peat/loam and given a nutrient feed either adequate or deficient in potassium.Detailed studies were also made of the distribution of potassium in various parts of tomato plants, cv. Amberley Cross, grown in sand and supplied with nutrient feeds containing four and seven concentrations of potassium. In these plants the concentration of potassium in stem, petiole and laminar tissue increased from the base to the apex of plants, irrespective of the potassium concentration in the nutrient feed. There was also a gradient of decreasing potassium concentration along leaves, from proximal to distal laminae. The concentration of potassium in all plant parts increased with increasing nutrient supply of potassium, petioles showing a greater response to nutrient potassium than laminar tissue.Marginal chlorosis and/or necrosis were observed when the potassium concentration in fully expanded leaves fell below 1.2 per cent of the dry weight for cv. Amberley Cross or 1.5 per cent for cv. Moneymaker. A 50 per cent incidence of chlorosis and/or necrosis occurred in leaf laminae containing 0.74 per cent potassium.Leaves rarely showed deficiency symptoms when the concentration of potassium in the petioles was higher than that in adjacent laminar tissue. However, chlorosis and/or necrosis occurred when the potassium concentration in petioles fell below that in laminae. In the diagnosis of the potassium status of tomato plants, the most suitable tissue for sampling for potassium analysis is considered to be the petioles of young fully expanded leaves.     

Influence of Sink-Source Interaction on Dry Matter Production in Tomato

Sink-source ratio in tomato was manipulated, in six glasshouseexperiments, by fruit pruning (trusses pruned to two to sevenfruits immediately after fruit set of each truss), truss pruning(removal of every other truss at anthesis) and truss pruningin plants with two shoots. Periodic destructive harvest wereconducted for about 100 d after flowering of the first truss.Dry matter production was not influenced by sink-source ratio,whereas dry matter distribution between fruits and vegetativeparts was greatly affected. The fraction of dry matter distributedto the fruits at the end of the fruit pruning experiments (F_fruits)could be described accurately as a saturation-type functionof number of fruits retained per truss (N_f): F_fruits = 0.660(l-e^-0.341N_f). Specific leaf area and internode length decreasedand plant leaf area increased when sink-source ratio was reduced.Removal of every other truss at anthesis did reduce dry matterpartitioning into the fruits, but it did not influence internodelength. Plant development (number of visible leaves at the endof the experiments) was not influenced by sink-source ratio.In four experiments some plants were pruned to one fruit pertruss. Final dry matter production was 8-24% lower for theseplants, compared with plants with more than one fruit per truss.This was, at least party, the result of less light interceptionby these plants, which had strongly curled leaves pointing downwards. Results indicate that effects of sink demand on dry matter productionper unit of intercepted radiation and probably on leaf photosyntheticrate in commercial tomato production can be ignored.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Dry matter production, feedback control, glasshouse, growth analysis, Lycopersicon esculentum, pruning, sink demand, sink-source ratio, tomato     

Photosynthetic activities of vegetative and fruiting tissues of tomato

Photosynthetic activities of different chlorophyll-containing parts of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Saporo) were assessed using chlorophyll fluorescence techniques. Trusses selected for study contained near mature, green fruit and measurements were carried out on the truss peduncle, pedicels, calyces, and fruit. Activities of these tissues were compared with those of adjacent compound leaves considered to be the primary suppliers of photosynthetic assimilates to fruit. All tissues showed high intrinsic efficiencies of photosystem II, measured as FV/FM, in dark-adapted tissue (range 0.77-0.82). Maximal photosynthetic electron transfer activities varied from 110 to 330 mol m^-2 s^-1. With increasing photon flux density there was a gradation of tissue activity with actual photosynthetic yields, electron transport rates and photochemical quenching coefficients (qP) of tissues decreasing in the order: upper leaf lamina, lower leaf lamina, leaf petiole, truss peduncle, pedicel, calyx, and fruit. The reverse order was found for the rapidity at which absorbed photon energy was diverted to non-photochemical pathways as photon flux density was increased. The onset of FO quenching at high photon flux densities suggested that all tissues contained a regulated mechanism for dissipating excess energy as heat. It was concluded that the non-leaf green tissues of tomato are quite active photosynthetically and therefore potentially contribute significantly to plant growth. At a photon flux density of 185 mol m^-2 S^-1, 29% of photosynthetic electron transport activity on a surface area basis was located in tissues other than leaf laminae, with fruit accounting for 15%.     

Photosynthesis in leaves,fruits, stem and petioles of greenhouse-grown tomato plants

Gross photosynthetic capacity (P _G ) of greenhouse-grown tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) decreased as the leaf aged. The P _G of the 10th, 15th and 18th leaves from the top was only 76, 37, and 18 % of P _G of the 5th leaf, respectively. Quantum yield (Y _Q ) and dark respiration rate (R _D ) were also lower in older leaves than in the younger ones. Net photosynthetic rate (P _G ) was apparent in young fruits (about 10 g FM) or young petioles but no P _N was found in large fruits (40 g or more FM) and stems because of high R _D . Both P _G and R _D were lower in older fruits and petioles or in lower parts of the stem compared to the younger ones or upper parts of stem. A sharp decrease in chlorophyll (Chl) content was only measured in the senescing 18th leaf. The Chl content in petioles, stems and fruits was proportional to P _G . Decreases in P _G of older leaves were attributed to decreases in content rather than activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) since soluble protein content was lower in older leaves than in the younger ones but the specific activity (activity per unit of protein) of RuBPCO was not so. The estimated values of P _N of the 10th, 15th and 18th leaves inside the canopy were only 50, 21, and 7 % of that in the 5th leaf. Therefore, leaves below the 18th can be removed in order to ensure a good air circulation and prevent diseases. The significance of photosynthesis in fruit, stem and petioles is not negligible because photosynthesis re-fixes the respired CO₂. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Factors determining the distribution of sycamore aphids on sycamore leaves during summer

• 1 In summer the sycamore aphid's responses to gravity, light direction and intensity and unidentified features of a leaf's surface result in the aphid settling and feeding on the undersurface of leaves.
• 2 At this time the petioles are a poor source of food and are not colonized.
• 3 Removal of leaf laminae results in premature abscission of the petioles. Prior to abscission the petioles become senescent and a richer food source than the laminae of mature leaves, and are colonized by aphids.

     

The Effects of Silicon on Cucumber Plants Grown in Recirculating Nutrient Solution

Cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus) cv. Corona were grown in recirculatingnutrient solution containing either 10 mg l^–1 SiO₂ (lowSi) which was the level present in the water supply or givenan additional 100 mg l^–1 SiO₂ (high Si). Silicate wasdepleted from the solution when cucumbers were grown, but accumulatedwhen tomatoes were grown. Major effects on cucumber leaves ofadded Si were: increased rigidity of the mature leaves whichhad a rougher texture and were held more horizontally; theywere darker green and senescence was delayed. The mature highSi leaves acquired characteristics of leaves grown in a higherlight intensity, i.e. they had shorter petioles and an increasedfresh weight per unit area, dry weight per unit area, chlorophyllcontent, RuBPcarboxylase activity and soluble protein (all expressedper unit area of interveinal laminar tissue). Addition of Sidid not affect the final leaf area of the mature leaves butroot fresh weight and dry weight were increased. A pronouncedeffect of Si addition was the increased resistance to the powderymildew fungus Sphaerotheca fuliginea. Despite regular applicationsof fungicide, outbreaks of the fungal disease occurred on mostof the mature leaves on the low Si plants, while the high Siplants remained almost completely free of symptoms. The additionof Si could be beneficial to cucumbers grown in areas wherethe local water supply is low in this element, especially whengrown in recirculating solution or in a medium low in Si, e.g.peat. Cucumber, silicon, fungal resistance, powdery mildew, senescence, RuBPcarboxylase     

Quantitative Aspects of Leaf Acid Phosphatase Activity and the Phosphorus Status of Tomato Plants

The relation between tomato leaf acid phosphatase activity andleaf tissue P content has been examined, and a study made ofthe effects of leaf development, variation in nitrogen supply,and variation in the growing medium on this relationship. Tomatoplants were grown in sand and given various concentrations ofphosphate. Plants were also grown for an initial period in peatcontaining an adequate level of phosphate, then transferredto peat to which was added 0 or 2.3 kg superphosphate m^–3and supplied with either 50 of 300 µg N ml^–1. Expressed on a unit tissue f. wt basis, acid phosphatase activityin the control plants in sand (given 41 µg P ml^minus;1)was highest in extracts from the expanding leaves and decreasedwith leaf maturity. However, when given a reduced supply ofphosphate, the enzyme activity in the more mature leaves wasequal to, or greater than, that in the expanding leaves. Thephosphatase activity increased first in the young, fully-expandedleaves and in the mature leaves (with 4.1 µg P ml^–1),but did not increase in the expanding leaves until the supplywas restricted to 2.1 µg P ml^–1. On closer examination,the increase in enzyme activity appeared to be associated withthe P level in the leaf tissues, the activity increasing whenthe level fell below about 0.25 per cent (g P per 100 g drywt tissue). The same relation was found with the plants grownin peat, and was independent of the concentration of nitrogensupplied to the plants. The fully expanded leaves showed the best enzyme response whenthe phosphate supply was restricted and the activity reflectedclosely the local levels of tissue P. The assay of the enzymein unpurified leaf extracts is simple and rapid, and could beused in a test to detect P-deficiency in tomato plants. Lycopersicon esculentum L, tomato, acid phosphatase activity, phosphorus status     

Photosynthesis in Drought-Adapted Cassava

After 45 d of limited water supply, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) exhibited pronounced reduction in shoot growth, high leaf fall, and decreased stomatal conductance. However, the water status of the remaining leaves was unaffected. This was combined with an amplified heliotropic response and drooping which minimises radiant energy interception at mid-day, suggesting that leaves are sensitive to high irradiance (I). In well-irrigated plants, CO₂-saturated oxygen evolution and net photosynthetic rate (P _N) in air were markedly higher (5-fold) in young (expanding) leaves than in mature leaves. Water limitation did not strongly modify CO₂-saturated oxygen evolution but it altered P _N in air for both types of leaves, although differently. The mature leaves of drought-adapted plants displayed residual rate of P _N and deteriorated photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemistry estimated from chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence measurements. In young leaves at moderate I, P _N was depressed by only 66 % in stressed plants. Moreover, the photochemical quenching of Chl a fluorescence and the quantum efficiency of PS2 photochemistry in young leaves were comparable in both control and stressed plants. In contrast at high I, P _N was almost null and marked decreases in the two fluorescence parameters were apparent. Hence the strong heliotropic response and drooping displayed by young leaves under water limitation is an important strategy for avoiding inactivation of P _N by high I and therefore for cassava tolerance to drought.     

Response of tomato plants to chilling stress in association with nutrient or phosphorus starvation

The experiments were conducted on two tomato cultivars: Garbo and Robin. Mineral starvation due to plant growth in 20-fold diluted nutrient solution (DNS) combined with chilling reduced the rate of photosynthesis (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g) to a greater extent than in plants grown in full nutrient solution (FNS). In phosphate-starved tomato plants the P _N rate and stomatal conductance decreased more after chilling than in plants grown on FNS. In low-P plants even 2 days after chilling the recovery of CO₂ assimilation rate and stomatal conductance was low. A resupply of phosphorus to low-P plants (low P + P) did not improve the rate of photosynthesis in non-chilled plants (NCh) but prevented P_N inhibition in chilled (Ch) plants. The greatest effect of P resupply was expressed as a better recovery of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, especially in non-chilled low P + P plants. The F _v/F _m (ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence) decreased more during P starvation than as an effect of chilling. Supplying phosphorus to low-P plants caused the slight increase in the F _v/F _mratio. In conclusion, after a short-term chilling in darkness a much more drastic inhibition of photosynthesis was observed in nutrient-starved or P-insufficient tomato plants than in plants from FNS. This inhibition was caused by the decrease in both photochemical efficiency of photosystems and the reduction of stomatal conductance. The presented results support the hypothesis that tomato plants with limited supply of mineral nutrients or phosphorus are more susceptible to chilling.     

Influence of Phosphorus and Endomycorrhiza (Glomus Intraradices) on gas exchange and plant growth of Chile Ancho Pepper (Capsicum Annuum L. cv. San Luis)

Seedlings of chile ancho pepper were grown in pots containing a pasteurized mixture of sand and a low phosphorus (P) sandy loam soil, and either inoculated (VAM) or not inoculated (NVAM) with the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices. Long Ashton nutrient solution (LANS) was modified to supply P to the seedlings at 0, 11, and 44 g(P) m^-3 (P₀, P11, P₄₄, respectively). Low P depressed net photosynthetic rate (P_N), stomatal conductance (gs), phosphorus use efficiency (P_N/P), and internal CO₂ concentration (C_i). The mycorrhiza alleviated low P effects by increasing P_N, g_s, P_N/P, and decreasing C_i. At P₀, C_i of NVAM plants was equal to or higher than that of VAM plants, suggesting nonstomatal inhibition of photosynthesis. Gas exchange of VAM plants at P₀ was similar to that of NVAM plants at P11. Endomycorrhiza increased leaf number, leaf area, shoot, root and fruit mass at P₀ and P₁₁ compared to NVAM plants. Reproductive growth was enhanced by 450 % in mycorrhizal plants at P₄₄. Root colonization (arbuscules, vesicles, internal and extraradical hyphae development) was higher at lower P concentrations, while sporulation was unaffected. The enhanced growth and gas exchange of mycorrhizal plants was in part due to greater uptake of P and greater extraradical hyphae development. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of root anaerobiosis on ethylene production, epinasty, and growth of tomato plants

Experiments were performed to determine the source(s) of ethylene-causing epinasty in flooded tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Simultaneous measurements were made of ethylene synthesized by the roots and shoots of tomato plants exposed to either aerobic or anaerobic atmospheres in the root zone. When the root zone was made anaerobic by a flowing stream of N₂ gas, petiole epinasty and accelerated ethylene synthesis by the shoots were observed. In soil-grown plants, ethylene synthesis by the root-soil complex increased under anaerobic conditions; but when grown in inert media under the same conditions, ethylene synthesis by roots remained constant or declined during the period of rapid epinastic growth by the petioles. Other characteristic symptoms of flooding, e.g. reduced growth and chlorosis, were also observed in plants with anaerobic roots. Pretreatment of plants with AgNO₃, an inhibitor of ethylene action, completely prevented epinasty, demonstrating that ethylene is the agent responsible for waterlogging symptoms. These results indicate that deprivation of O₂ to the roots is the primary effect of soil flooding, and that this is sufficient to cause increased ethylene synthesis in the shoot. The basis of the observed root-shoot communication is unknown, but root-synthesized hormones or specific ethylene-promoting factors may be involved.     

Is the rate of photosynthesis under blue light altered in the 7B-1 tomato mutant?

Changes of photosynthesis under blue light were examined in the ABA-overproducing 7B-1 mutant in tomato. Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance (g _s), intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE_i) and chlorophyll (a+b) [Chl (a+b)] content in leaves of different insertion (1^st, 4^th and 9^th ones) were measured in 5-, 7- and 9-week-old plants. P _N, g _s, and Chl (a+b) content were mostly similar in young leaves of 7B-1 and wild type (WT) plants. With the aging of leaves, a blue-light-induced increase in P _N and g _s to steady-state was delayed and steady-state values of P _N and g _s were lower in 7B-1 plants compared with WT. Steady-state values of WUE_i were increased in 4^th and 9^th leaves of 7B-1 plants compared with WT. The results can be explained by the higher endogenous level of ABA in 7B-1 plants and their lower sensitivity to ABA in earlier growth stage.     

Photosynthesis and ultrastructure of photosynthetic apparatus in tomato leaves under elevated temperature

The microstructure of leaves and ultrastructure of chloroplasts were examined in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants treated with elevated temperature. Plants were exposed to 35°C for 30 d after florescence. The plants grown continuously under 25°C served as controls. Compared with the controls, the net photosynthetic rate (P _N) in stressed plants decreased significantly. Stomatal conductance, intercellular CO₂ concentrations, the rate of transpiration, and the limitation of stomatal conductance showed that the decrease in P _N was caused mainly by nonstomatal restrictions. Meanwhile, stomata density increased significantly in the stressed plants. The stomata status of opening and closing became disorganized with a prolonged 35°C exposure. The damage of chloroplast membrane occurred earlier and was more serious in the plants under elevated temperature. At the same time, the thylakoids were loosely distributed with lesser grana, but the number of lipid droplets increased in chloroplasts. The number of starch grains in chloroplasts increased first and then decreased. In addition, the length of the main nerve in leaves increased and the main vein showed distortion in the plants stressed by 35°C. An increase was observed in the number of cells on the abaxial side of the main vein and these cells were overly congregated. The thickness of a vertical section became thinner in the stressed leaves. The cells of the upper epidermis thinned, and the ratio of palisade tissue to spongy tissue decreased. Generally, the photosynthetic apparatus of tomato changed significantly and the changed chloroplast ultrastructure might be one of the important reasons that caused the decrease of P _N under 35°C.     

Interrelationship between phosphorus toxicity and sugar metabolism in Verticordia plumosa L

Phosphorus, an essential plant nutrient, may become toxic when accumulated by plants to high concentrations. Certain plant species such as Verticordia plumosa L. suffer from P toxicity at solution concentrations far lower than most other plant species. In this study, exposure of V. plumosa plants to a solution containing as low as 3 mg l^–1 P resulted in significant growth inhibition and typical symptoms of P toxicity. In a wide range of P levels studied, micronutrient concentrations in V. plumosa leaves were within the range considered adequate for optimal growth. Notably, tomato plants with high hexokinase activity due to overexpression of Arabidopsis hexokinase (AtHXK1) exhibited senescence symptoms similar to those of P toxic V. plumosa. The resemblance in senescence symptoms between P-toxic tomato plants and those with high hexokinase activity suggested that increased sugar metabolism could play a role in P toxicity in plants. To test this hypothesis, we determined the amount of hexose phosphate, the product of hexokinase, in V. plumosa leaves grown at various P levels in the nutrient solution. Positive correlations were found between concentration in the medium, P concentration in the plant, hexose phosphate concentration in leaves and P toxicity symptoms. Foliar Zn application suppressed P toxicity symptoms and reduced the level of hexose phosphate in leaves. Furthermore, Zn also inhibited hexokinase activity in vitro. Based on these results we suggest that P toxicity involves sugar metabolism via increased activity of hexokinase that accelerates senescence     

Tomato prosystemin promoter confers wound-inducible, vascular bundle-specific expression of the β-glucuronidase gene in transgenic tomato plants

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Better Boy) plants were transformed with a fused gene containing a 2.2-kb promoter fragment of the tomato prosystemin gene and the coding region of the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. The transgenic plants exhibited a low constitutive level of prosystemin-β-glucuronidase gene expression, assayed by histochemical staining and GUS enzyme activity, that was associated in the vascular bundles of leaf main veins, petiolules, petioles and stems. The GUS activity in the vascular bundles in each tissue was increased by wounding and by treatment of the plants with methyl jasmonate, similar to the induction of prosystemin in wild-type plants. The increase in GUS activity in the vascular bundles of leaves in response to wounding correlated with the wound-inducible increase in prosystemin mRNA. Tissue printing, using rabbit anti-serum prepared against prosystemin, confirmed that inducible prosystemin protein was localized in vascular bundles of petiolules, petioles and stems of wild-type tomato plants. The evidence indicates that the 2.2-kb promoter region of the tomato prosystemin gene contains elements conferring its correct temporal and spatial expression in the vascular bundles of transgenic tomato plants. Received: 7 January 1997 / Accepted: 2 April 1997     

Some isolates of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia promote root growth and reduce flowering time of tomato

The fungal parasite of nematode eggs Pochonia chlamydosporia is also a root endophyte known to promote growth of some plants. In this study, we analysed the effect of nine P. chlamydosporia isolates from worldwide origin on tomato growth. Experiments were performed at different scales (Petri dish, growth chamber and greenhouse conditions) and developmental stages (seedlings, plantlets and plants). Seven P. chlamydosporia isolates significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of secondary roots and six of those increased total weight of tomato seedlings. Six P. chlamydosporia isolates also increased root weight of tomato plantlets. Root colonisation varied between different isolates of this fungus. Again P. chlamydosporia significantly increased root growth of tomato plants under greenhouse conditions and reduced flowering and fruiting times (up to 5 and 12 days, respectively) versus uninoculated tomato plants. P. chlamydosporia increased mature fruit weight in tomato plants. The basis of the mechanisms for growth, flowering and yield promotion in tomato by the fungus are unknown. However, we found that P. chlamydosporia can produce Indole‐3‐acetic acid and solubilise mineral phosphate. These results suggest that plant hormones or nutrient ability could play an important role. Our results put forward the agronomic importance of P. chlamydosporia as biocontrol agent of plant parasitic nematodes with tomato growth promoting capabilities.     

Citrus abscission and Arabidopsis plant decline in response to 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole are mediated by lipid signalling

The compound 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole (CMNP) is a pyrazole-derivative that induces abscission selectively in mature citrus (Citrus sinensis) fruit when applied to the canopy and has herbicidal activity on plants when applied to roots. Despite the favourable efficacy of this compound, the mode of action remains unknown. To gain information about the mode of action of CMNP, the effect of application to mature citrus fruit and Arabidopsis thaliana roots was explored. Peel contact was essential for mature fruit abscission in citrus, whereas root drenching was essential for symptom development and plant decline in Arabidopsis. CMNP was identified as an uncoupler in isolated soybean (Glycine max) mitochondria and pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplasts and an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase in citrus peel, but not an inhibitor of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase. CMNP treatment reduced ATP content in citrus peel and Arabidopsis leaves. Phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels increased in flavedo of citrus fruit peel and leaves of Arabidopsis plants treated with CMNP. An inhibitor of PLA₂ activity, aristolochic acid (AT), reduced CMNP-induced increases in PLA₂ and LOX activities and LPO levels in citrus flavedo and Arabidopsis leaves and greatly reduced abscission in citrus and delayed symptoms of plant decline in Arabidopsis. However, AT treatment failed to halt the reduction in ATP content. Reduction in ATP content preceded the increase in PLA₂ and LOX activities, LPO content and the biological response. The results indicate a link between lipid signalling, abscission in citrus and herbicidal damage in Arabidopsis.     

Changes in Structural Features of Free N-Glycan and Endoglycosidase Activity during Tomato Fruit Ripening

In developing plants, free N-glycans occur ubiquitously at micromolar concentrations. Such oligosaccharides have been proposed to be signaling molecules in plant development. As a part of a study to elucidate the physiological roles of de-N-glycosylation machinery involved in fruit ripening, we analyzed changes in the amounts and structural features of free N-glycans in tomato fruits at four ripening stages. The amount of high-mannose type free N-glycans increased significantly in accordance with fruit ripening, and the relative amounts of high-molecular size N-glycans, such as Man_8-9GlcNAc₁, became predominant. These observations suggest that the de-N-glycosylation machinery, including endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) activity, is stimulated in the later stages of fruit ripening. But contrary to expectation, we found that total ENGase activities in the tomato fruits did not vary significantly with the ripening process, suggesting that ENGase activity must be maintained at a certain level, and that the expression of α-mannosidase involved in the clearance of free N-glycans decreases during tomato fruit ripening.     

Gibberellins Increase Cuticle Deposition in Developing Tomato Fruit

Effects of the gibberellins A₄₊₇(GA₄₊₇) and A₃(GA₃), benzyladenine (BA) and forchlorfenuron (CPPU) on deposition of the cuticular membrane (CM) in developing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit were investigated. Growth regulators were applied when fruit development within trusses ranged from the flower to the mature stage. Developmental stage of fruit at the time of application was indexed by fruit diameter. Fruit were harvested at maturity, the CM isolated enzymatically on an individual fruit basis and mass of CM per unit fruit surface area calculated. In mature fruit, mass of CM per fruit increased with fruit size, but mass of CM per unit surface area was independent of fruit size, position within a truss and position of the truss on the plant. GA₄₊₇ and GA₃ increased CM mass per unit fruit surface area at concentrations up to 300 mg l⁻¹. Young fruit (5–10 mm diam. at time of application) was most responsive. Responsiveness decreased as fruit development at application progressed towards maturity. There was no consistent effect of GA₄₊₇ or GA₃ on fruit mass. BA (up to 100 mg l⁻¹) or CPPU (up to 3 mg l⁻¹) had no significant effect on CM mass per unit surface area regardless of developmental stage. Higher concentrations of BA or CPPU decreased CM mass per unit surface area. There was no effect of BA or CPPU on fruit mass. Potential mechanisms and benefits of a gibberellin induced increase in CM deposition are discussed.