Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Isolation and Biophysical Study of Fruit Cuticles
Published on: March 30, 2012
Starch molecular structure shows little association with fruit physiology and starch metabolism in tomato
Kietsuda Luengwilai1, Kanitha Tananuwong, Charles F Shoemaker
1Department of Plant Sciences MS-3, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Abstract:
The aim of this work was to determine if the molecular structure of starch from tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is influenced by fruit physiology and carbohydrate metabolism. The effect of fruit size, fruit ripening behavior, and assimilate availability on starch granule accumulation was examined in nine tomato samples. The percentage of (14)C-glucose partitioning to starch was similar among samples, but starch contents varied 10-fold, suggesting differences in metabolism. In contrast, granule size (10-20 microm), amylose content (19-23%), degree of crystallinity (26-31%), and enthalpy of gelatinization (14.8-17.2 degrees C) were similar. Some differences in structure were detected in starch from the largest and smallest fruit using more sensitive analyses such as thermal properties, chain length distribution of amylopectin, and susceptibility to in vitro alpha-amylase digestion. However, overall, our results suggest that granule characteristics are highly conserved in tomato fruit, and we conclude that this is likely due to inherent metabolic constraints.
More Related Videos
07:25Combining Histochemical Staining and Image Analysis to Quantify Starch in the Ovary Primordia of Sweet Cherry during Winter Dormancy
Published on: March 20, 2019
15:25Tomato Analyzer: A Useful Software Application to Collect Accurate and Detailed Morphological and Colorimetric Data from Two-dimensional Objects
Published on: March 16, 2010
Related Concept Videos
Chemistry of Carbohydrates
Fruit Development, Structure, and Function
Basic Plant Anatomy: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
Introduction to Carbohydrates
Sugars as Energy Storage Molecules
Protein Transport to the Stroma
Protein complexes called the translocon of the outer chloroplast membrane or TOC complex, and the translocon of the inner chloroplast membrane or TIC complex mediate the...