Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of fruit set sequence and defoliation on cell number, cell size and hormone levels of tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) within a truss

  • Published:
Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fruit size within a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) truss depends on both fruit position in the truss and the time of pollination among fruits. In the natural pollination sequence a difference of 5 days in the pollination of proximal and distal flowers results in significant final size differences between proximal and distal fruits. These final size differences were eliminated when all flowers were pollinated simultaneously. At anthesis proximal ovaries have higher cell numbers than distal ovaries but the cell division activity and cell enlargement in both positions was similar in the first 10 days of fruit growth. Simultaneous pollination resulted in lower cell numbers in proximal but higher cell numbers in distal fruits compared to control fruits.

Hormone levels in different sized fruits were measured using radioimmunoassays. Cytokinin concentration during the cell division period indicated a possible role in the regulation of cell division. With other hormones no obvious correlations were found. The results are discussed in relation to factors determining final fruit size in tomato.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abdel-Rahman M, Thomas TH, Doss GJ and Howell L (1975) Changes in endogenous plant hormones in cherry tomato fruits during development and maturation. Physiol Plant 34: 39–43

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bangerth F (1964) Zytogenetische Untersuchungen über die Wirkung von Neutronen-, Beta-, Gamma-, Röntgenstrahlen und Äthylenimin auf Tomatenpflanzen (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). PhD Thesis, University Hohenheim

  3. Bangerth F (1981) Some effects of endogenous and exogenous hormones and growth regulators on growth and development of tomato fruits. In: B Jeffcoat, ed. British Plant Growth Regulator Group, Monograph No. 6: Aspects and Prospects of Plant Growth Regulators pp. 141–150

  4. Bangerth F and Ho LC (1984) Fruit position and fruit set sequence in a truss as factors determining final size of tomato fruits. Ann Bot 53: 313–319

    Google Scholar 

  5. Beadle NCW (1937) Studies in growth and respiration of tomato fruits and their relationship to carbohydrate content. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci 15: 173–189

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bohner J and Bangerth F (1988) Cell number, cell size and hormone levels in semi-isogenic mutants of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium differing in fruit size. Physiol Plant 72: 316–320

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bünger-Kibler S and Bangerth F (1982/83) Relationship between cell number, cell size and fruit size of seeded fruits of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), and those induced parthenocarpically by the application of plant growth regulators. Plant Growth Regul 1: 143–154

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dinar M and Stevens MA (1982) The effect of temperature and carbon metabolism on sucrose uptake by detached tomato fruits. Ann Bot 49: 477–483

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dreher TW and Poovaiah BW (1982) Changes in auxin content during development in strawberry fruits. J Plant Growth Regul 1: 267–276

    Google Scholar 

  10. Düring H and Alleweldt G (1984) On the possible role of abscisic acid in sugar accumulation of grape berry. Ber Deutsch Bot Ges 97: 101–113

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ho LC (1980) Control of import into tomato fruits. Ber Deutsch Bot Ges 93: 315–325

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ho LC, Sjut V and Hoad GV (1982/83) The effect of assimilate supply on fruit growth and hormone levels in tomato plants. Plant Growth Regul 1: 155–171

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kinet J-M, Zune V, Linotte C, Jacqmard A and Bernier B (1985) Resumption of cellular activity induced by cytokinin and gibberellin treatments in tomato flowers targeted for abortion in unfavorable light conditions. Physiol Plant 64: 67–73

    Google Scholar 

  14. Leonard M, Kinet J-M, Bodson M and Bernier G (1983) Enhanced inflorescence development in tomato by growth substance treatments in relation to 14C-assimilate distribution. Physiol Plant 57: 85–89

    Google Scholar 

  15. MacDonald EMS, Akiyoshi DE and Morris RO (1981) Combined high performance liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay for cytokinins. J Chromatogr 214: 101–109

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mapelli S (1981) Changes in cytokinin in the fruits of parthenocarpic and normal tomatoes. Plant Sci Lett 22: 227–233

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mapelli S, Frova C, Torti G and Soressi GP (1978) Relationship between set, development and activities of growth regulators in tomato fruits. Plant Cell Physiol 19: 1281–1288

    Google Scholar 

  18. Morris DA (1982) Hormonal regulation of sink invertase activity: Implications for the control of assimilate partitioning. In: Wareing PFed. Plant Growth Substances 1982, pp. 659–668. London: Academic Press

    Google Scholar 

  19. Mousdale DA and Knee M (1981) Indolyl-3-acetic acid and ethylene in ripening apple fruits. J exp Bot 129: 753–758

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schussler JR, Brenner ML and Brun WA (1984) Abscisic acid and its relationship to seed filling in soybeans. Plant Physiol 76: 301–306

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sjut V and Bangerth F (1981) Effect of pollination or treatment with growth regulators on levels of extractable hormones in tomato ovaries and young fruits. Physiol Plant 53: 76–78

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sjut V and Bangerth F (1982) Induced parthenocarpy — a way of changing the levels of endogenous hormones in tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) 1. Extractable hormones. Plant Growth Regul 1: 234–251

    Google Scholar 

  23. Smith O (1935) Pollination and life history studies of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Cornell Univ Agric Exp Stat Memoir 184: 3–16

    Google Scholar 

  24. Tietz A, Ludewig M, Dingkuhn M and Dörffling K (1981) Effects of abscisic acid on the transport of assimilates in barley. Planta 152: 557–561

    Google Scholar 

  25. Varga A and Bruinsma J (1976) Roles of seeds and auxins in tomato fruit growth. Z Pflanzenphysiol 80: 95–104

    Google Scholar 

  26. Walker AJ and Ho LC (1977) Carbon translocation in the tomato: carbon import and fruit growth. Ann Bot 41: 813–823

    Google Scholar 

  27. Weiler EW (1980) Radioimmunoassay for differential and direct analysis of free and conjugated abscisic acid in plant extracts. Planta 148: 262–272

    Google Scholar 

  28. Weiler EW (1981) Radioimmunoassay for pmol-quantities of indole-3-acetic acid for use with highly stable 125J- and 3H-IAA derivatives as radiotracers. Planta 153: 319–325

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schering AG, Pflanzenschutz forschung, Gollanczstr. 57-101, D-1000, Berlin 28

    J. Bohner

  2. Institut für Obst-, Gemüse- und Weinbau (370), Universität Hohenheim, Postfach 70 05 62, D-7000, Stuttgart 70, BRD

    F. Bangerth

Authors
  1. J. Bohner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Bangerth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bohner, J., Bangerth, F. Effects of fruit set sequence and defoliation on cell number, cell size and hormone levels of tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) within a truss. Plant Growth Regul 7, 141–155 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028237

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028237

Key words

Search

Navigation