Utilization of ovary culture in nutritional study of fruit development of tomato plants

Abstract

Ovaries collected 2 days after anthesis were cultured in a modified MS medium in which the concentrations of major elements (N, P, and K) were changed to 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2,1/1, and 2/1 of those of the basal MS medium. The total (ovary+root) fresh weight and the ovary size at about 50 days after culture initiation increased with the increase in the N concentration in the medium up to 1/2 N and decreased of 2/1 N. In the P or K treatment the values of the corresponding parameters increased with the concentration of the elements in the medium and no decrease was observed at the highest level of P or K. Nitrogen, P, K, and citric acid contents in the ovaries increased proportionally with the increase in the concentration of these elements in the medium. Glucose and fructose contents increased with the decrease in the N concentration in the medium, but did not change significantly in the P or K treatment. These results were similar to those reported in tomato intact plants. It is therefore suggested that ovary culture may be useful for studies on nutritional problems in fruits of tomato intact plants.

Key Words:

• fruit quality
• major element nutrition
• ovary culture
• tomato