Precocious Germination (Vivipary) in Tomato: A Link to Economic Loss?

Abstract

In plants, vivipary (precocious or premature germination) involves the germination of seeds while still on the parent plant. It is a widespread phenomenon in plants characterized by the lack of seed dormancy. Here, the first formal account of vivipary in tomato is presented. The aims of this study were to: (i) disseminate a straightforward description of the viviparous tomato fruits and the developmental changes of the progeny until complete development and (ii) quantify seeds in the new tomato fruits and highlight the economic impact of this reproductive strategy in the Solanaceae family and other commercial crops along with the biological significance of vivipary in plants. This study shows that the entire fruit with viviparous seedlings failed to perpetuate offspring, and when the seedlings were manually separated and transplanted, a high mortality rate (83.3%) was observed. Surviving seedlings matured and produced normal fruits with a disproportion of normal (54.7 ± 7.8) and abnormal (22.2 ± 4.4) seeds in relation to total number of seeds (76.9 ± 8.1), representing one-third loss in normal, viable seeds. These results shed light on the potential detrimental effect of vivipary in commercial crops and, ultimately, in wild plants. High incidence of vivipary in staple food crops is of paramount importance as it can undermine current and future productive yields and economic return for stakeholders. This trait is detrimental in commercial crops because it causes yield and viability losses and inferior nutritional and palatable qualities of fruits and unviable seeds.