Comparative Anatomy of Pericarps of Four Tomato Mutants1

Abstract

Abstract Pericarps of 4 tomato mutants and 1 cultivar were compared anatomically. Sticky peel ( pe ) had very little cuticle on its epidermal surface and was devoid of hypodermal cells. Peach ( p ) possessed a heavily cutinized and rough surface over the epidermis with a hypodermal layer comparable to that of the standard cv. Campbell 146. Easy peeling ( ep ) was more heavily cutinized than Campbell 146, but the hypodermal layer was comparable in structure. The easy peeling characteristic appeared to be associated with more intercellular space among and disintegration of the fully mature parenchyma cells below the hypodermis. Oblong fruits ( obl ) have a strong skin resulting from a thick hypodermal layer. They also possess a heavily cutinized epidermis and relatively compact, small inner parenchyma cells.