Review: Tomato fruit water accumulation and solute metabolism under water shortage (J. Exp. Bot.)

Deficit irrigation is water-conserving strategy in which a growing plant is given just enough but never too much water. Previous studies have shown myriad physiological changes caused by deficit irrigation including decreased growth rate and shoot:root ratio, and also a lower fruit water content. Here, Hou et al. review tomato fruit quality grown under deficit irrigation. Water deficit affects solute transport, metabolism, and water relations between fruit and parent plant, all of which are explored in terms of how they affect tomato fruit size, nutritional and flavor qualities, and firmness. The authors also address how genetic variation affects the fruit responses to deficit irrigation. (Summary by Mary Williams) J. Exp. Bot. 10.1093/jxb/erz526