A study on organogenesis in Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Abstract

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important horticultural crops, belonging to the family Solanaceae. Owing to the significance of tomato as a model plant in genetic studies, little is known about the floral development in this plant. The organogenesis of tomato flowers was studied using epi-illumination light microscopy. The flowers were pentamerous with the acropetal and asynchronous inception of floral whorls. The initiation of sepals, petals and stamens followed helically, unidirectionally and bidirectionally, respectively. The high occurrence of floral abnormalities was remarkable. The initiation of a higher number of organ primordia was observed for sepals, petals, stamens and carpels. The increase in the number of organs resulted from the duplication of organ primordia, especially for the stamen whorl. Based on previous studies, low temperature was probably responsible for the abnormal development of tomato flowers.

Keywords

• epi-illumination light microscopy
• Organogenesis
• Lycopersicum esculentum
• epi
• illumination light microscopy
• Abnormal development