Effects of Diurnal Changes in the Salinity of the Nutrient Solution on the Accumulation of Calcium by Tomato Fruit

Tomato fruit grown in diurnally fluctuating salinities (8 mScm^–1 during the day and 3 mS cm^–1 at night; 8/3mS cm^–1), accumulated the same amount of dry matter andmagnesium (Mg) as those in constant 3 or 8 mS cm^–1, butan intermediate amount of calcium (Ca). Raising the salinityof the nutrient solution by enriching with macronutrients orby adding NaCl had similar effects. The uptake of ⁴⁵Ca by tomato plants during the day was greaterthan at night and was reduced by salinity in both periods. Whilethe uptake of ⁴⁵Ca by 8/3 mS plants at night was similar tothat of 3 mS plants, the daily uptake was less than that in3 and 5.5 mS plants. The Ca content of tomato fruit increased with truss number at3 and 5.5 mS cm^–1 but not at 8/3 and 8 mS cm^–1.Within the same truss, the distal fruit had a lower Ca contentbut higher Mg content than the proximal fruit. The reductionin Ca content of the distal fruit at 8/3 mS cm^–1 was similarto that at 5.5 mS cm^–1. The Ca content of the tissue atthe distal end of the 8/3 mS fruit was lower than that of the5.5 mS fruit. Similarly, the distribution of ⁴⁵Ca to the distalhalf of the detached 8/3 mS fruit was less than that of 5.5mS fruit. A reduced uptake and inadequate distribution of Cato the truss and to the distal end of the 8/3 mS fruit werethe main causes of these differences. Lycopersicon esculentum(Mill.), tomato, fruit, calcium, magnesium, diurnal salinity     

Environmental Effects on the Diurnal Accumulation of 45Ca by Young Fruit and Leaves of Tomato Plants

Diurnal uptake and distribution of ⁴⁵Ca in young fruiting tomatoplants were assessed 12 or 24 h after ⁴⁵Ca was applied to thenutrient solution at the beginning of either the light (12 h)or the dark (12 h) period. During the experiment, the salinityof the nutrient solution (measured as electrical conductivity,EC) was either 2·5 or 17 mS cm^–1 and the relativehumidity (measured as vapour pressure deficit, VPD) was either0·2 or 0·6 kPa The uptake of ⁴⁵Ca by a tomato plant over 12 h was higher inthe light than in the dark but the difference was less at lowhumidity. More ⁴⁵Ca was transported from the roots to the shootin the light than in the dark. More than half of the ⁴⁵Ca inthe shoot was accumulated by the stem; the proportion of ⁴⁵Cain the stem was greater in the dark and was further enhancedby high humidity to more than 80% of the ⁴⁵Ca in the shoot.The accumulation of ⁴⁵Ca by the fruit truss in the dark wasgreater than in the light in all experimental conditions. Underlow humidity the accumulation of ⁴⁵Ca by young leaves was similarin both light and dark. In high humidity there was considerablyless accumulation of ⁴⁵Ca by the young leaves in the dark The uptake of ⁴⁵Ca continued over 24 h but the transport of⁴⁵Ca to individual organs in the second 12 h period was affectedby both light and humidity. Some of the ⁴⁵Ca accumulated byyoung leaves and fruit in the second period appears to havebeen derived from ⁴⁵Ca released from the xylem wall along thetransport pathway in the stem The roles of root pressure and transpiration in the diurnalaccumulation of calcium in young fruit and leaves are discussed Calcium, diurnal translocation, tomato, young fruit and leaves     

Effects of Various Concentrations of Iodine as Potassium Iodide on the Growth of Barley, Tomato and Pea in Nutrient Solution Culture

Iodine enhanced the height, number of tillers, fresh and dryweights of barley at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 ppm. With5.0 ppm the plants were indistinguishable from the untreatedcontrols. A dose of 10.0 ppm was inhibitory and induced symptomsof toxicity. In tomato, growth was increased at 0.5 ppm with maximum stimulationoccurring at 1.0 ppm. As in barley, 5.0 ppm exerted no effectand 10.0 ppm resulted in decreased growth, with toxicity symptomsevident. With pea, all iodine concentrations used led to reduced growth,the magnitude of the effect and the severity of the toxicitysymptoms increasing with concentration. The symptoms of toxicity in barley included general chlorosis,yellow intervenal patches, and brown necrotic spots. The lattertended to coalesce to form streaks. Death of some leaves resulted.Rather similar symptoms developed in tomato and pea, but nonecrotic spots were observed in the latter.     

Interactive Effects of Iron and Photoperiods on Tomato Plant Growth and Fruit Quality

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Photoperiod and micronutrient iron (Fe) are critical for plant growth and development. However, the interactive effects of Fe nutrition and photoperiod on...     

Tomato Mosaic Virus Infection in a Recirculating Nutrient Solution

We studied the behaviour of tomato mosaic tobamovirus (ToMV) in a recirculating nutrient solution. Particles of tomato mosaic virus were found in the nutrient solution 3 days after leaf inoculation of plants and we demonstrated that the level could increase to a concentration readily detectable by electron microscopy. Virions remained infective in nutrient solution for at least 6 months, could infect bait plants and induced systemic symptoms within 10 days. This is the first report of measurement of infective virions in recirculating nutrient solutions. Hydroponic producers should be aware of the potential for rapid spread of virus diseases in soilless growing systems as one infected plant can serve as a source of inoculum that can ultimately result in an epidemic.     

Growth and Nitrogen Status of Soilless Tomato Plants Following Nitrate Withdrawal from the Nutrient Solution

The effects of withdrawing nitrogen (N) from the nutrient solutionof adult tomato plants growing in rockwool in a greenhouse wereinvestigated over a 6 week period during fruit production. Thetreatment reduced total plant growth after a lag period of about2 weeks. The commercial fruit yield after 6 weeks of N deprivationwas 7.7 kg m^-2compared to 9.3 kg m^-2in control plants. Duringthe experiment, growth of the -N plants was fuelled by N reservescontained in both the substrate (rockwool) and in plant organs.The nitrogen budget calculated for -N plants showed that onlya small amount of organic-N was readily available for internalcycling from organs such as stems. It served mainly to feedgrowing fruits which were the main sinks in the plant. The studyalso established that stores of nitrate-N were fully depletedbut it took 45 d for the -N plants to metabolize completelytheir nitrate reserves. This indicates that internal nitrateis not a readily-accessible store of labile N. An estimationof the critical N concentration (%N_c) in the aerial dry matterwas made from the data. Thus, for a crop yielding about 9.9tons DM ha^-1, %N_cwas close to 2.5%. This result is discussedin light of existing models that describe the ontogenic declinein %N_cin dry biomass of C₃plants. The study indicates that thecurrent regime of N fertilization practised in soilless culturesnot only leads to ineffective nitrogen use but also to largelosses of N to the environment; N concentrations should be decreasedin feeding recipes. The use of N-free nutrient solutions priorto the termination of plant culture may also be a means of limitingthe loss of eutrophying elements, such as nitrate, to the environment.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Lycopersicon esculentum, tomato, organ dry biomass, critical nitrogen concentration, compartment, rockwool, nitrate interruption, distribution, reserves     

Reversible Inhibition of Tomato Fruit Gene Expression at High Temperature (Effects on Tomato Fruit Ripening)

The reversible inhibition of three ripening-related processes by high-temperature treatment (38[deg]C) was examined in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv Daniella) fruit. Ethylene production, color development, and softening were inhibited during heating and recovered afterward, whether recovery took place at 20[deg]C or fruit were first held at chilling temperature (2[deg]C) after heating and then placed at 20[deg]C. Ethylene production and color development proceeded normally in heated fruit after 14 d of chilling, whereas the unheated fruit had delayed ethylene production and uneven color development. Levels of mRNA for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase, phytoene synthase, and polygalacturonase decreased dramatically during the heat treatment but recovered afterward, whereas the mRNA for HSP17 increased during the high-temperature treatment and then decreased when fruit were removed from heat. As monitored by western blots, the HSP17 protein disappeared from fruit tissue after 3 d at 20[deg]C but remained when fruit were held at 2[deg]C. The persistence of heat-shock proteins at low temperature may be relevant to the protection against chilling injury provided by the heat treatment. Protein levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase and polygalacturonase also did not closely follow the changes in their respective mRNAs. This implied both differences in relative stability and turnover rates of mRNA compared to protein and nontranslation of the message that accumulated in low temperature. The results suggest that high temperature inhibits ripening by inhibiting the accumulation of ripening-related mRNAs. Ripening processes that depend on continuous protein synthesis including ethylene production, lycopene accumulation, and cell-wall dissolution are thereby diminished.     

The Interactive Effects of Temperature and Osmotic Potential on the Growth of Aquatic Isolates of Fusarium culmorum

The mycelial growth of 10 Fusarium culmorum strains isolated from water of the Andarax riverbed in the provinces of Granada and Almeria in southeastern Spain was tested on potato-dextrose-agar adjusted to different osmotic potentials with either KCl or NaCl (?1.50 to ?144.54 bars) at 10°C intervals ranging from 15° to 35°C. Fungal growth was determined by measuring colony diameter after 4 d of incubation. Mycelial growth was maximal at 25°C. The quantity and capacity of mycelial growth of F. culmorum were similar at 15 and 25°C, with maximal growth occurring at ?13.79 bars water potential and a lack of growth at 35°C. The effect of water potential was independent of salt composition. The general growth pattern of Fusarium culmorum growth declined at potentials below ?13.79 bars. Fungal growth at 25°C was always greater than growth at 15°C, at all of the water potentials tested. Significant differences were observed in the response of mycelia to water potential and temperature as main and interactive effects. The number of isolates that showed growth was increasingly inhibited as the water potential dropped, but some growth was still observable at ?99.56 bars. These findings could indicate that F. culmorum strains isolated from water have a physiological mechanism that permits survival in environments with low water potential. Propagules of Fusarium culmorum are transported long distances by river water, which could explain the severity of diseases caused by F. culmorum on cereal plants irrigated with river water and its interaction under hydric stress or moderate soil salinity. The observed differences in growth magnitude and capacity could indicate that the biological factors governing potential and actual growth are affected by osmotic potential in different ways.     

Potential Dry Matter and Water Import Rates in the Tomato Fruit in Relationship to Fruit Size

The tomato fruit was compared to a sphere with a radius R. Radialgrowth rates in the fruit (F_IW and F_ID) due to water importor to dry matter import, respectively, which are also the waterimport rate or dry matter import rate per unit surface areaof fruit, were calculated from two sets of published results.This data referred to fruits which swelled in such a way thatthe availability of assimilates had little effect on growth.Two varieties differentiated the two series of results and inone series, three trials were differentiated by the salinityof the nutrient solution. In all trials, it was found that F_IW and F_ID decreased whenR increased. Two phases were observed for F_IW: after a firstphase, F_IW decreased more quickly and almost linearly when Rincreased. F_ID was constant or decreased with respect to R.Except at the beginning of growth at the greatest salinity,there were clearly linear regressions between F_IW and F_ID suchas F_ID = aF_IW-b; where b was lower with higher salinity. Thechanges of the concentration of imported dry matter (F_ID/F_IWwere examined in terms of R and F_IW/R. The mechanisms controllingthe changes in F_IW and F_ID were discussed. The results suggestedfruit radius was an important parameter of these mechanisms.Thus, water import rate and dry matter import rate could eachbe considered to be the product of two factors: fruit surfacearea, which is directly dependent on fruit radius, and waterimport rate or dry matter import rate per unit of fruit surfacearea.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Dry matter, fruit growth, logistic model, sink size, tomato, water transfer     

营养液pH值对非洲菊生长和生理特征的影响

以非洲菊(Gerbera jamesonii Bolus)为材料,采用水培的方法研究了营养液不同pH值(4.0、5.0、6.0、7.0、8.0、9.0)对其生长发育的影响.结果显示:(1)在pH 6.0条件下,非洲菊叶片和根系的鲜重、干重均最大,叶片数多于其他处理,且增加幅度较大;叶面积最大且叶面积增长最快.(2)随着培养天数的增加, pH 4.0～7.0处理非洲菊的叶绿素含量均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,而pH 8.0和pH 9.0处理的叶绿素含量一直呈现下降的趋势;pH 6.0处理的非洲菊在培养30 d时叶绿素含量极显著高于其他处理.(3)在培养45 d时,pH 6.0处理的SOD活性极显著高于其他处理;随着培养时间的延长,根系活力在pH 4.0～7.0处理呈持续上升趋势,在pH 8.0和pH 9.0处理呈先上升后下降的趋势.研究表明,在pH 6.0的微酸性环境下非洲菊的生长状态良好,pH 8.0和9.0的碱性环境对非洲菊的生长具有明显的抑制作用,其叶片发黄;培养介质pH值可能是非洲菊定植后叶片黄化的重要原因之一.     

S3307浸种对番茄幼苗生长和一些生理指标的影响

以不同浓度S3307浸种后,番茄幼苗株高降低,茎粗度增加,根冠比值、叶绿素、光合速率、可溶性糖、脯氨酸、Vc含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性均提高,丙二醛(MDA)含量和外渗电导率降低。说明S3307有助于培育壮苗,并提高番茄幼苗的抗逆性。5mg·L~(-1) S3307浸种的效果明显。     

Endogenous Levels of Phenolics in Tomato Fruit during Growth and Maturation

Changes in the metabolism of several types of phenolics in the pulp and pericarp of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit var. Ailsa Craig and Pik-Red were related to the stage of development. The highest levels of chlorogenic acid were found in the pulp and pericarp at the earliest stage of fruit development, and quantities declined rapidly during fruit ripening. Levels of rutin, found only in the pericarp, followed a similar pattern of change. The p-coumaric acid conjugate of rutin was found in low levels through fruit growth and ripening. High levels of p-coumaric acid glucoside were detected in the pulp only as the fruit matured with no rapid decline in levels during ripening. The decline of chlorogenic acid and rutin levels during fruit ripening paralleled the decline in indole-3-acetic acid levels measured previously in the pericarp tissues of these two varieties of tomato fruit during maturation. These phenolics are among those that have been suggested as regulants of auxin metabolism. Received April 30, 1996; accepted December 26, 1996     

Effects of lodine in Various Formulations on the Growth of Barley and Pea Plants in Nutrient Solution Culture

The forms of iodine added to cultures of barley were potassiumiodide, potassium iodate, potassium periodate, and iodoaceticacid at iodine concentrations of 1.0 ppm and 10.0 ppm. Withpea, only iodide and iodate at 1.0 ppm iodine concentrationwere used. For both species, comparisons were made with culturesto which no iodine was added. In barley, growth was increased by 1.0 ppm iodine, the relativeeffectiveness of the different formulations being in the order:iodoacetic acid > iodide > iodate > periodate. With10.0 ppm, iodide and iodoacetic acid treatments gave reducedgrowth, iodate was without effect, and periodate enhanced growth. In pea, 1.0 ppm iodine was inhibitory, iodide being more toxicthan iodate. Analysis of dry matter showed iodine content according to treatmentto be in the order: iodide > iodoacetic acid > iodate> periodate     

Carbon Translocation in the Tomato: Carbon Import and Fruit Growth

The rates of carbon import by fruits were measured over 48 has the sum of the change in the total organic carbon contentof the fruit and the respiratory loss of carbon. Over a rangeof fruit sizes from 20–90 per cent of the maximum volumethe smaller fruits imported carbon at an absolute rate (mgCfruit^–1 h^–1) nearly twice that of the larger fruits.The imported leaf assimilates, identified as the ¹⁴C-compoundsalong the pathway between a ¹⁴CO₂-fed leaf and a young fruit,comprised 90 per cent sucrose and 10 per cent glutamic acid,aspartic acid and malic acid. Within the fruit the imported¹⁴C-sucrose was hydrolysed into hexoses. The changes in thelevels of starch and insoluble residue in the fruit were positivelycorrelated with the carbon import rates. In the largest fruitswith the lowest import rates, there was breakdown of insolubleresidue and less accumulation of starch, but a significant increasein the level of sucrose. The sink strength of a tomato fruitis dependent more on sink activity than on sink size.     

Evidence of Association of Salmonellae with Tomato Plants Grown Hydroponically in Inoculated Nutrient Solution

The possibility of uptake of salmonellae by roots of hydroponically grown tomato plants was investigated. Within 1 day of exposure of plant roots to Hoagland nutrient solution containing 4.46 to 4.65 log₁₀ CFU of salmonellae/ml, the sizes of the pathogen populations were 3.01 CFU/g of hypocotyls and cotyledons and 3.40 log₁₀ CFU/g of stems for plants with intact root systems (control) and 2.55 log₁₀ CFU/g of hypocotyls and cotyledons for plants from which portions of the roots had been removed. A population of ≥3.38 log₁₀ CFU/g of hypocotyls-cotyledons, stems, and leaves of plants grown for 9 days was detected regardless of the root condition. Additional studies need to be done to unequivocally demonstrate that salmonellae can exist as endophytes in tomato plants grown under conditions that simulate commonly used agronomic practices.     

Synthesis of Iron-Amino Acid Chelates and Evaluation of Their Efficacy as Iron Source and Growth Stimulator for Tomato in Nutrient Solution Culture

Supplying a sufficient amount of available iron (Fe) for plant growth in hydroponic nutrient solutions is a great challenge. The chelators commonly used to supply Fe in nutrient solutions have several disadvantages and may negatively affect plant growth. In this research study we have synthesized certain Fe-amino acid chelates, including Fe-arginine [Fe(Arg)₂], Fe-glycine [Fe(Gly)₂], and Fe-histidine [Fe(His)₂], and evaluated their efficacy as an Fe source for two tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cvs. ‘Rani’ and ‘Sarika’) grown in nutrient solution. Application of Fe-amino acid chelates significantly increased root and shoot dry matter yield of both tomato cultivars compared with Fe-EDTA. Tomato plants supplied with Fe-amino acid chelates also accumulated significantly higher levels of Fe, Zn, and N in their roots and shoots compared with those supplied with Fe-EDTA. In ‘Sarika’, the effect of Fe-amino acid chelates on shoot Fe content was in the order Fe(His)₂?>?Fe(Gly)₂?>?Fe(Arg)₂. In ‘Rani’, the addition of all synthesized Fe-amino acid chelates significantly increased activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in comparison with Fe-EDTA, whereas in ‘Sarika’, only Fe(His)₂ increased shoot APX activity. The results obtained indicated that using Fe-amino acid chelates in the nutrient solution could supply a sufficient amount of Fe for plant uptake and also improve root and shoot growth of tomato plants, although this increase was cultivar-dependent. According to the results, Fe-amino acid chelates can be used as an alternative for Fe-EDTA to supply Fe in nutrient solutions.     

Characterization of Osmotic Restraints on Lettuce Fruit Germination

Germination responses of fruits of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.cv. Arctic King) to solutions of mannitol or potassium chlorideof different osmotic potentials were examined over a range oftemperatures in both light and dark. The upper temperature limit(‘cut-off’) for germination was progressively loweredby solutions of increasingly negative osmotic potential. Thisobservation explained inhibition of germination by solutionsof low osmotic potential at single experimental temperatures,found in previous investigations. Solutions of the two compoundshaving equal calculated osmotic potentials produced an equalinhibitory effect. No evidence for solute absorption was seen.Solutions of lower osmotic potential were needed to producethe same inhibition of germination in light against total darknessand also at lower temperatures.