A New Tomato Mutant Inefficient in the Transport of Iron

Abstract

Abstract An Fe‐inefficient tomato mutant, T3238fe ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) was identified by growing the plants in solution cultures containing different concentrations of FeHEDTA. Approach grafts of T3238Fe (Fe‐efficient) top on T3238fe rootstock and vice versa, located the cause of Fe inefficiency in T3238fe roots. The T3238Fe tomato takes up more Fe than T3238fe and it responds favorably to Fe‐stress by releasing hydrogen ions from its roots, increasing reduction of Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ at its roots, and increasing the citrate concentration in its roots. T3238fe showed very little response to Fe stress; it was unable to absorb and transport adequate Fe from PeEDDHA to support growth.