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MecaFruit3D

Combined (eco)-physiological approach and 3D modelling to understand and analyse the role of the cuticle in the growth and quality of fleshy fruits

Plant Ecophysio Architecture Phenotyping Operation Adaptation Drought Fruit quality Model Phenotoping Tomato
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Abstract

The cuticle has a major role in controlling water loss, micro- and macro-cracking of the fruit, its shelf life, and its resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the interactions between the mechanical properties of the tissues and the regulation of water and carbon fluxes during fruit development, as well as their consequences on the final size and composition of the fruit, have been little studied.

Goal

The objectives of the project are to better understand the multiple roles of the cuticle in the control of growth and quality of fleshy fruits. To this end, an interdisciplinary approach combining developments in 3D modelling, ecophysiology and technology is proposed. The study benefits from tomato mutants affected in the composition of the cuticle.

Action

Action 1: Development of a Fruit3D model integrating water and carbon flows with tissue mechanics.
Action 2: Measurement of fruit growth and quality (final size, sugar and acid composition, texture) for different ’cuticle’ mutants grown under control and water stress conditions (Fig.1). Measurement of post-harvest fruit development.
Action 3: Measurement of fruit conductance and mechanical properties of the fruit cuticle in several ’cuticle’ mutants (Fig.2).
Action 4: Optimisation via the model of cuticle properties with respect to final fruit quality and resistance to water stress.

Results

Fruit growth was little affected in the cutin mutants under both control and water stress conditions (Fig. 3), despite variable conductances (Fig. 4). This result suggests compensatory mechanisms between water losses by transpiration and water inflow related to the regulation of turgor and osmotic pressures. The results of the fruit composition (under analysis) will allow us to better understand these mechanisms and to test the behaviour of the model.

A two-dimensional multicellular model has been developed, which couples water and sugar flows at the fruit scale with the mechanical properties of the cell walls. Numerical simulations show a highly non-linear behaviour of the system. Two distinct growth regimes were identified: a regime that allows strong growth heterogeneities (Fig. 5a) and a regime that produces homogeneous growth (Fig. 5b). From a biological point of view the former is well suited to morphogenesis, the latter to homothetic growth after the tissue differentiation phase.

Perspectives

Development of a 3D structure-function model of the fruit combining mechanical constraints and growth processes

Project Number : 1202-039

Year : 2012

Type of funding : AAP OS

Project type : AAP

Research units in the network : SQPOV

Start date :
01 Jul 2013

End date :
31 Aug 2015

Flagship project :
Non

Project leader :
Nadia Bertin Valentina Baldazzi

Project leader's institution :
INRA-INRAE

Project leader's RU :
PSH

Budget allocated :
149931 €

Total budget allocated ( including co-financing) :
149931 €

Funding :
Labex