Ontogenetic changes in water in cherry tomato fruits measured by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Changes in water status of intact developing cherry tomato fruits were followed by 1H NMR imaging and 1H NMR spectroscopy. In small green fruits, large amounts of water were located in the epidermis and neighbouring cells, and in seed envelopes and seeds. High mobility water with long spin-lattice relaxation times ( T 1) in the seeds of small green fruits disappeared as the fruit grew. The content of high mobility water in locular cavities, including seed envelopes, increased as ontogeny advanced. Low mobility water (short T 1) in the pericarp and dissepiments of the small and large green fruits increased in quantity and mobility during maturation. In some of the several water compartments in large green fruits water content declined during maturation. Changes in the physical state of water appeared to reflect changes in the physiology of the fruits. The mobility of sugars increased during fruit ripening.