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【SMART City】Tomato Troubles: Preventing Fruit Cracking
Imagine that you find a crack on the surface of a tomato when you are walking in the garden, however, Did you ever consider that the crack of the tomato fruit is important to the spread of its seeds? Although it is helpful for the plant itself, it will cause a decrease in economics. So, people have tried to domesticate its breed to deal with the crack. Research has shown that the pericarp plays a significant role Therefore, focusing on the genes and DNA of the peel can lead to the successful hybridization of crack-resistant tomatoes.. This article will delve into the world of tomato cracking.
How does it crack
图片
In the growing process of tomato fruits, the number and volume of cells will increase through the division and differentiation of cells in the peel. The peel, which covers the surface of the fruit, acts as a protective tissue that includes the subcutaneous cell layer, the epidermal tissue, and the cuticle. These forces of the dimension of pulp are transferred to the subcutaneous cell layer, followed by the epidermal tissue, and finally, the cuticle. The peel acts as a protective tissue to withstand these tensions. If the thickness of the peel is insufficient to withstand these forces, the fruit will crack.
Let's take a look at the causes of fruit cracking
1. The Thickness
Studies have shown that the cuticle thickness is a key factor affecting the cracking of tomato fruits. When the expansion rate of the pulp exceeds the expansion rate of the cuticle, the fruit will crack. By comparing the genes of easy and resistant tomatoes, it was found that The genotype prone to cracking exhibited characteristics such as a thin peel and fewer cell layers. When the epidermal cells are more closely arranged, the more pressure they can withstand, the better the toughness of the peel.
2. The Enzyme Activity
The growth period of tomato fruit is divided into two stages, one is the green ripening stage when the thickness of epidermal tissue cells is basically formed, and the other is the red ripening stage when the thickness of the cuticle continues to increase. In the red ripening period, the thickness and toughness of the peel are greatly increased, but with the improvement of various enzyme activities, the hardness of the fruit will significantly decrease.
If the growth temperature increases, the activity of these enzymes is activated to a greater extent, accelerating the breakdown of the cell wall.
Other factors of fruit cracking include growing temperature, soil conditions, and so on.
How can we use science and technology to improve the breed?
Focusing on the genes
Hybridization involves selecting a parent with at least one anti-cracking trait to cross with a common species. If the fruit peel is thicker, the epidermal tissue is closely arranged and so on, it is an anti-cracking trait, which can enhance the anti-cracking ability of the offspring. We can also transfer genes with anti-cracking traits through transgenic methods to reduce the cracking rate of tomatoes.
Focus on the environment
In the high-temperature growth environment, the activity of the enzyme will become higher, so that the material between the cell wall of the epidermal tissue will decompose, reducing the hardness of the fruit, and resulting in cracked fruit. If we can effectively control the ambient temperature of tomato growth, such as growing tomatoes in an adjustable greenhouse, it will greatly reduce the fruit-cracking rate of tomatoes.
Conclusion
Through the study of the structure and function of the tomato peel, we can know the cause of the cracked fruit of the tomato, in order to propose potential solutions. If crack-resistant tomatoes can be cultivated in large numbers, this could significantly increase tomato yields.
In fact, for the evolution of the tomato itself, the cracking of the fruit is conducive to the reproduction of offspring; But for the humans who grow the tomatoes, it's disadvantageous.
图片
References
[1] Huijie Liu, Pengfei Zhu, Zhiguo Li Thermo-biomechanical coupling analysis for preventing tomato fruit cracking during ripening, 2022
[2] 刘仲齐，薛俊 番茄裂果与果皮结构的关系及其杂种优势表现 2007（03）
[3] F. Hahn Fuzzy controller decreases tomato cracking in greenhouses, June 2011
Illustrator: Misty
How does it crack
图片
In the growing process of tomato fruits, the number and volume of cells will increase through the division and differentiation of cells in the peel. The peel, which covers the surface of the fruit, acts as a protective tissue that includes the subcutaneous cell layer, the epidermal tissue, and the cuticle. These forces of the dimension of pulp are transferred to the subcutaneous cell layer, followed by the epidermal tissue, and finally, the cuticle. The peel acts as a protective tissue to withstand these tensions. If the thickness of the peel is insufficient to withstand these forces, the fruit will crack.
Let's take a look at the causes of fruit cracking
1. The Thickness
Studies have shown that the cuticle thickness is a key factor affecting the cracking of tomato fruits. When the expansion rate of the pulp exceeds the expansion rate of the cuticle, the fruit will crack. By comparing the genes of easy and resistant tomatoes, it was found that The genotype prone to cracking exhibited characteristics such as a thin peel and fewer cell layers. When the epidermal cells are more closely arranged, the more pressure they can withstand, the better the toughness of the peel.
2. The Enzyme Activity
The growth period of tomato fruit is divided into two stages, one is the green ripening stage when the thickness of epidermal tissue cells is basically formed, and the other is the red ripening stage when the thickness of the cuticle continues to increase. In the red ripening period, the thickness and toughness of the peel are greatly increased, but with the improvement of various enzyme activities, the hardness of the fruit will significantly decrease.
If the growth temperature increases, the activity of these enzymes is activated to a greater extent, accelerating the breakdown of the cell wall.
Other factors of fruit cracking include growing temperature, soil conditions, and so on.
How can we use science and technology to improve the breed?
Focusing on the genes
Hybridization involves selecting a parent with at least one anti-cracking trait to cross with a common species. If the fruit peel is thicker, the epidermal tissue is closely arranged and so on, it is an anti-cracking trait, which can enhance the anti-cracking ability of the offspring. We can also transfer genes with anti-cracking traits through transgenic methods to reduce the cracking rate of tomatoes.
Focus on the environment
In the high-temperature growth environment, the activity of the enzyme will become higher, so that the material between the cell wall of the epidermal tissue will decompose, reducing the hardness of the fruit, and resulting in cracked fruit. If we can effectively control the ambient temperature of tomato growth, such as growing tomatoes in an adjustable greenhouse, it will greatly reduce the fruit-cracking rate of tomatoes.
Conclusion
Through the study of the structure and function of the tomato peel, we can know the cause of the cracked fruit of the tomato, in order to propose potential solutions. If crack-resistant tomatoes can be cultivated in large numbers, this could significantly increase tomato yields.
In fact, for the evolution of the tomato itself, the cracking of the fruit is conducive to the reproduction of offspring; But for the humans who grow the tomatoes, it's disadvantageous.
图片
References
[1] Huijie Liu, Pengfei Zhu, Zhiguo Li Thermo-biomechanical coupling analysis for preventing tomato fruit cracking during ripening, 2022
[2] 刘仲齐，薛俊 番茄裂果与果皮结构的关系及其杂种优势表现 2007（03）
[3] F. Hahn Fuzzy controller decreases tomato cracking in greenhouses, June 2011
Illustrator: Misty
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