Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hqbzkh1wh

Description of the data and file structure

We have submitted our raw data (RAW DATA.xlsx). The data was collected from the experiment which was performed in a solar greenhouse under natural daylight at Shiyanghe Experimental Station of China Agricultural University in Wuwei City, Gansu Province, Northwest China (N 37°52', E 10°50', and altitude 1,581 m). This work was supported by research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51909263 and 52239002) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1900500). Hao Li appreciated the funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC202206350001) for supporting his study at INRAE in France.

Environmental/experimental conditions: 

Tomato seeds were germinated in a local seedling company, and seedlings were transplanted to pots (height 40.5 cm, bottom diameter 30.5 cm, and top diameter 38 cm) when 3-4 true leaves appeared. Each pot was filled with 18 kg air-dried, sieved, and evenly mixed sandy loam soil collected from local soil at a depth of 0-20 cm, with a mean dry bulk density of 1.41 g cm^-3  and a soil field capacity of 28% m³ m^-3. Small stones and fine sand were spread at the bottom of the pot as a filtration layer, and the soil surface was covered with vermiculite to reduce the scouring effect of irrigation on the surface soil. The date of anthesis of each flower was recorded, and the flowers on the first four tomato trusses on all tomato plants were manually fertilized, while the other flowers on trusses were left unfertilized. During the hand pollination process, each flower was gently shaken so that the anthers released their pollen onto the stigma within the same flower. In addition, a solution of p-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (10 mg kg^-1) was applied to the flower, which was beneficial for pollination, fruit set, and fruit development. Fruit samples were taken from the artificially pollinated fruits in the first four trusses.

Files and variables

File: RAW_DATA.xlsx

Description: In the RAW_DATA.xlsx file, there are 8 sheets, namely Table 1 and Fig 2A-D; Fig2E-F, Fig6 and Fig. S4;  F4A-F, F6, F7 and Fig. S5; Fig4G-J and Fig. S6A-D; Fig4K-L Fig7 and Fig. S6E-F; Fig. S3; Fig. S5 and Fig. S7; Fig. 5 and Fig. S11. These correspond to the figures in the body of the text.

In each sheet, the terms 'Genotypes' and 'Treatments' have identical meanings.

Genotypes: Ten genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were used, which were Central Asia#1 (FCA), Barbosa (FBA), Choutaro#2 (FCH), Shifong#206 (PSF), Fongfan#64 (PFF), Fongza#33 (PFZ), Red Roman (PRR), Pink Angel (CPA), Fongbaoshi (CFB), Wanxi (CWX);

Treatments: Two soil moisture treatments well-watered (control) and water deficit (water deficit), were applied to the tomato plants. Soil field capacity was maintained between 75-79% in the control plants. All plants were watered when soil field capacity of the plants under well-watered conditions approached 75%. The amount of water applied was reduced by 50% in the water deficit treatment, compared to the control at each watering.

The variables in each sheet are defined as follows:

Table 1 and Fig 2A-D:

Fruit fresh mass (g): The mass of the whole mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (g);

Pericarp dry matter mass (g): Dry matter mass of pericarp of mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (g);

Pericarp water mass (g): Water mass of pericarp of mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (g);

Placenta dry matter mass (g): Dry matter mass of placenta of mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (g);

Placenta water mass (g): Water mass of placenta of mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (g).

Fig2E-F, Fig6 and Fig. S4:

Fruit osmotic potential (MPa) :  Osmotic potential of pericarp samples from mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (MPa) ;

Total soluble solids (Brix): Total soluble solids of pericarp samples from mature tomato fruits at the red firm stage (Brix) .

F4A-F, F6, F7 and Fig. S5:

Total vein length (mm): Vein length, including primary and secondary vascular bundles, of tomato pericarp at the red firm stage (mm);

Total primary vein length (mm): Vein length of primary vascular bundles of tomato pericarp at the red firm stage (mm);

Pericarp area (mm²): The projected area of the fruit pericarp at the red firm stage (mm²);

VLA on a per area basis (mm mm^-1): Vein length density on a per fruit pericarp area basis (mm mm^-1);

Primary VLA on a per area basis (mm mm^-1): Primary vein length density on a per fruit pericarp area basis (mm mm^-1).

Fig4G-J and Fig. S6A-D:

Vascular bundle: Vascular bundle of tomato pericarp, including primary and secondary. The primary vascular bundles were defined as those running from the pedicel end to the stylar end in a carpel and the remaining vascular bundles were collectively grouped into secondary vascular bundles.

Xylem vessel number: The number of the xylem vessel in the primary and secondary vascular bundle;

vessel diameter (um): The diameter (um) of the xylem vessel in the primary and secondary vascular bundle;

Theoretical hydraulic conductivity (kg m MPa^-1 s^-1): Theoretical hydraulic conductivity (kg m MPa^-1 s^-1) of the xylem vessel in the primary and secondary vascular bundle was calculated according to the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.

Fig4K-L Fig7 and Fig. S6E-F:

Mean cross-section cell size (mm²):  Mean cell size (mm²)  in fruit pericarp was determined by dividing the area of the rectangle by the number of cells contained therein;

Cell layer number:  The number of cell layers on the exocarp included in the rectangular area was counted. A rectangle > 1.5mm in width and pericarp thickness×80% in height, was drawn between the outer and the inner epidermis excluding the vascular bundles. The cells with 'null' represent the data is not available because the the sample images were partial damage.

Fig. S3: 

Stem water potentials at pre-dawn (MPa): Stem water potentials at pre-dawn (4:00-6:00 am) were determined on a typical sunny day in the middle of an irrigation cycle;

Stem water potentials at midday (MPa): Stem water potentials at midday (12:00-14:00 pm) were determined on a typical sunny day in the middle of an irrigation cycle.

Fig. S5 and Fig. S7:

Pericarp thickness at middle (mm): Pericarp thickness (mm) of the fruit at middle positions;

Pericarp thickness at  proximal (mm): Pericarp thickness (mm) of the fruit at proximal positions;

Pericarp thickness  at distal (mm) : Pericarp thickness (mm) of the fruit at distal  positions;

Pericarp volume (cm³): Fruit pericarp volume was calculated by subtracting the volume of the space inside the pericarp from the volume of the whole fruit. The cells with 'null' represent the data is not available because the the sample images were partial damage.

Fig. 5 and Fig. S11:

Water uptake (g fruit^-1): Accumulative water uptake on a per fruit basis  (g fruit^-1) at different time (2h, 4h, 6h, 7h, 9h, 11h, 13h… ).

Code/software

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Access information

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Data was derived from the following sources:

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