bussiores(1994) model of a water import in a tomato fruit. verb
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Explanation:
A model of the water import rate in tomato fruit is proposed. It compares the fruit to a hollow sphere (P) with external radius R and internal radius RG, corresponding to pericarp, and containing an internal spherical part (G). The pathway limiting water input rate at any point I at a distance r from the fruit centre was assumed to be proportional: (a) in P, to the length of the arc which has a radius r and which goes from I to the pedicel extension; (b) in G, to r. The water input rate at I was modelled based on a law similar to Darcy's law which takes into account the difference between the water potential at entry of fruit and the water potential at point I. This latter potential was the sum of fruit osmotic potential and pressure potential due to resistance of tissue to deformation. This potential was proportional to R-r or RG -r. The model was expressed at fruit level by a law such that water mass imported per unit time per unit surface area of fruit (frw) was a linear function of R. The model was compared to linear regressions of this rate in terms of R which had been found during fruit swelling from published results, and which were obtained at different values of nutrient solution salinity. The results suggested that water input in tomato fruit is conditioned by passive forces depending on fruit size.