Light versus Dark Carbon Metabolism in Cherry Tomato Fruits

Abstract

The possible relationship between malate metabolism and photosynthetic activity in green tomato fruit tissues (Lycopersicum esculentum var. cerasiforme Dun A. Gray) was investigated. Initial experiments consisted of vacuum-infiltrating ¹⁴C-3 or ¹⁴C-4-malate into isolated tissues in darkness and then incubating the tissues under photosynthetic conditions. Other experiments involved a short pulse with ¹⁴C-bicarbonate in darkness to label the malate pool(s), followed by a chase in the light in the presence of nonradioactive bicarbonate. Both series of experiments were followed by the separation and identification of labeled metabolic intermediates.