The effect of the blue light on the pericarp cell growth and lycopene content of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) fruit

Abstract

The cherry tomato fruit size depends on the growth of the pericarp which is parenchymal cells. The blue light stimulates the expansion of cotyledon cells, hypocotyl cells and leaf cells. In this study, the cherry tomato fruit was used as a material to investigate the effects of the blue light on the pericarp cells growth in fruit growth stage and lycopene accumulation in fruit growth and ripening stage. After 7 days of the blue light (440, 450 or 460 nm) treatment, pericarp cells growth and physiological, biochemical changes of the pericarp cells of 7-day-old fruit pericarp piece in vitro were analyzed. The lycopene content and some organic compound contents of 42-day-old postharvest fruits treated by the blue light similarly in 7 days and 7, 21-day-old fruit wrapped with blue filter (440-510 nm filtered) in 7 days were measured. The results showed that the 450 nm wavelength blue light the increased pericarp thickness of 7-day-old fruits through the increasement of the pericarp cell diameter. The 460 nm wavelength blue light the increased lycopene content of 42-day-old postharvest fruits. The blue filter treatment increased the sugar total content of 7- day-old fruits and increased the lycopene content of 21-day-old fruits.