Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen

Water and nitrogen (N) are essential factors affecting the tomato plant-fruit system. However, little is known about to what extent water and N could regulate the water and carbon fluxes between the source-sink system, thus influencing fruit growth. In this study, the source-sink ratio (Rss) was pro...

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Main Authors: Huiping Zhou, Jinliang Chen, Shaozhong Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Agricultural Water Management
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377424005584
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author Huiping Zhou
Jinliang Chen
Shaozhong Kang
author_facet Huiping Zhou
Jinliang Chen
Shaozhong Kang
author_sort Huiping Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Water and nitrogen (N) are essential factors affecting the tomato plant-fruit system. However, little is known about to what extent water and N could regulate the water and carbon fluxes between the source-sink system, thus influencing fruit growth. In this study, the source-sink ratio (Rss) was proposed and then related to water and N supply by a WN-Jensen function, according to the experimental observations from tomatoes grown under various water and N conditions. A process-based model was applied to investigate the effects of water and N supply on fruit growth through modifying one of the major model inputs, the sucrose concentration in phloem solution (Cp), which was assumed to be proportional to Rss. The model was then assessed with the data sets from tomatoes grown under different water and N conditions. The results showed that, N deficit and water stress at fruit early /whole growth stage had significant limitation on plant and fruit growth, together with low stem water potential and water consumption. The dynamics of fruit growth were better simulated by the model when the effects of water and N on source-sink regulation were taken into consideration through modifying Cp. Compared to the original model simulation, MAE and RRMSE of fruit growth prediction decreased by up to 82.0 % and 79.9 %. The simulation efficiency of fruit fresh and dry weights was in the range of 77.4 %-96.4 % and 72.9 %-92.9 % by the modified model, respectively. Model-assisted analysis showed that water supply could be reduced by 11.9 %, 27.0 % and 41.1 % at fruit early, middle and late stage together with a reduction of 27.5 % N application (saving investment of 131 $/ha), while ensuring the same fruit growth by considering water and nitrogen regulation on source-sink relation.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-1a101fcc003b4890bb22e39872e72a772025-01-07T04:16:46ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-02-01307109222Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogenHuiping Zhou0Jinliang Chen1Shaozhong Kang2State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture, Wuwei 733009, China; School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture, Wuwei 733009, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station on Efficient Water Use of Oasis Agriculture, Wuwei 733009, China; Corresponding author at: State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, Beijing 100083, China.Water and nitrogen (N) are essential factors affecting the tomato plant-fruit system. However, little is known about to what extent water and N could regulate the water and carbon fluxes between the source-sink system, thus influencing fruit growth. In this study, the source-sink ratio (Rss) was proposed and then related to water and N supply by a WN-Jensen function, according to the experimental observations from tomatoes grown under various water and N conditions. A process-based model was applied to investigate the effects of water and N supply on fruit growth through modifying one of the major model inputs, the sucrose concentration in phloem solution (Cp), which was assumed to be proportional to Rss. The model was then assessed with the data sets from tomatoes grown under different water and N conditions. The results showed that, N deficit and water stress at fruit early /whole growth stage had significant limitation on plant and fruit growth, together with low stem water potential and water consumption. The dynamics of fruit growth were better simulated by the model when the effects of water and N on source-sink regulation were taken into consideration through modifying Cp. Compared to the original model simulation, MAE and RRMSE of fruit growth prediction decreased by up to 82.0 % and 79.9 %. The simulation efficiency of fruit fresh and dry weights was in the range of 77.4 %-96.4 % and 72.9 %-92.9 % by the modified model, respectively. Model-assisted analysis showed that water supply could be reduced by 11.9 %, 27.0 % and 41.1 % at fruit early, middle and late stage together with a reduction of 27.5 % N application (saving investment of 131 $/ha), while ensuring the same fruit growth by considering water and nitrogen regulation on source-sink relation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377424005584Fruit growthWater stressNitrogenSource-sink ratioProcess-based modelingSolanum lycopersicum
spellingShingle Huiping Zhou
Jinliang Chen
Shaozhong Kang
Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
Agricultural Water Management
Fruit growth
Water stress
Nitrogen
Source-sink ratio
Process-based modeling
Solanum lycopersicum
title Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
title_full Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
title_fullStr Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
title_full_unstemmed Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
title_short Model-assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source-sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
title_sort model assisted analysis on the response of tomato fruit growth to source sink ratio regulated by water and nitrogen
topic Fruit growth
Water stress
Nitrogen
Source-sink ratio
Process-based modeling
Solanum lycopersicum
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377424005584
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AT jinliangchen modelassistedanalysisontheresponseoftomatofruitgrowthtosourcesinkratioregulatedbywaterandnitrogen
AT shaozhongkang modelassistedanalysisontheresponseoftomatofruitgrowthtosourcesinkratioregulatedbywaterandnitrogen