Comparative leaf physiological and anatomical analysis of Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum pennellii

The Institute of Plant Sciences of the Scuola Sant'Anna is organizing a seminar “Comparative leaf physiological and anatomical analysis of Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum pennellii” on Thursday, December 5, starting at 5 p.m. (Room 5).

Abstract

Distinct physiological and anatomical traits can drive significant differences in photosynthetic efficiency between plant varieties. These in turn may impact traits of agronomic relevance. We conducted a comparative analysis of leaf physiology, anatomy and deep phenotyping in Solanum lycopersicum (LEA) and Solanum pennellii (Lost accession) to investigate differences in photosynthetic performance under varying light and CO2 levels, and how these relate to stomatal physiology.

LEA is a modern inbred variety suited for the processing industry, while Lost is a drought-tolerant, green-fruited variety. We found that LEA had higher stomatal density (SD) on the abaxial leaf surface compared to the adaxial surface, while Lost exhibited equal SD on both surfaces. Stomatal conductance (gs) was higher in LEA on the abaxial surface, while Lost showed no difference between surfaces. Intriguingly, Lost also exhibited higher overall photosynthesis, particularly on the abaxial surface, which may be put in relation with larger, more densely packed palisade mesophyll cells and dense spongy mesophyll cells. Deep phenotyping revealed that photosynthesis operates at a higher rate in Lost, possibly with a more efficient Calvin-Benson cycle. Lost also showed higher Rubisco activity, content, and chlorophyll levels than LEA, further explaining its superior photosynthetic performance. Our study highlights the photosynthetic advantages of Lost and suggests avenues for enhancing tomato productivity through trait transfer.