The reorganization of the cellulose-xyloglucan matrix is proposed to serve as an important mechanism in the control of strength and extensibility of the plant primary cell wall. One of the key enzymes associated with xyloglucan metabolism is xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET), which catalyzes the endocleavage and religation of xyloglucan molecules. As with other plant species, XETs are encod...

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is an important member of the Solanaceae family. It is mainly used as food and cash crop globally. Tomato also serves as an ornamental plant in some parts of the world. In urban areas, this crop is included in the foodscaping systems where it is grown in hanging baskets, growing pots and aquaponics for aesthetic and food purposes. Tomato production is m...

A greenhouse pot test was conducted to study the impacts of replacing mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizers for one full growing period on soil fertility, tomato yield and quality using soils with different tomato planting history. Four types of fertilization regimes were compared: (1) conventional fertilizer with urea, (2) chicken manure compost, (3) vermicompost, and (4) no fertilizer. ...

The interaction of plants with bacterial pathogens involves the manipulation of programmed cell death (PCD) pathways. During a resistance interaction PCD is induced in a process termed the hypersensitive response (HR) which may function to limit pathogen spread. In a susceptible plant-pathogen interactions, the pathogen both inhibits and/or induces host PCD depending on the infection stage and ...

Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) belong to the family of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases and catalyze the formation of 4-hydroxyproline, requiring 2-oxoglutarate and O2 as co-substrates and Fe as a co-factor. Nine putative P4Hs have been identified up to now in the tomato genome. A reverse genetics approach, Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, was used to silence two P4Hs, P4H3 and P4H8. Transient ...

Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic plant secondary metabolites important for plant biology and human nutrition. In particular flavonols are potent antioxidants, and their dietary intake is correlated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Tomato fruit contain only in their peel small amounts of flavonoids, mainly naringenin chalcone and the flavonol rutin, a quercetin glycoside. To...

The most popular and important plant Lycopersicon esculentum Mill or Tomato was attacked by several fungal pathogens and several biocontrol agents can be used. Mycorrhizal fungi are mutuality associated with many plant rootswhile actinomycete isolates of the genus Streptomyces enhanced plant growth and decreased plant pathogen development. Thus, interaction between Mycorrhizae and Streptomyces ...

Adult tomato psyllid, Bactericerca (Paratrioza) cockerelli (Sulc) (Homoptera: Psyllidae), behavioral responses were evaluated for five tomato plant lines and for the interactions of insecticides with four commercial cultivars. Plant lines tested included the commercial 'Shady Lady', 'Yellow Pear', '7718 VFN', 'QualiT 21', and the plant introduction line PI 134417. Insecticides included a kaolin...

NFRUITFUL plants are a familiar sight in fields of the heavily fruiting U tomato varieties late in the harvest season. Such plants are rendered conspicuous by their large moundlike vegetative growth, in contrast to the much lower and smaller growth of normal plants (fig. I). Colloquially they are known as “bull,” “buck,” or “male” plants. The tendency to ascribe maleness to them is understandab...