Tag: postharvest

A new study has revealed that tomatoes harvested at an extremely early stage can still undergo maturation and ripening postharvest, offering a new avenue to enhance agricultural practices. The research explores the molecular and physiological changes occurring in these early-harvested fruits, demonstrating their ability to mature despite some challenges in pigment and cuticle formation. Importantly, seeds from these tomatoes remain viable, capable of germinating and growing into healthy plants. This discovery challenges conventional views on fruit development and suggests that the genetic programs governing maturation are triggered early, independent of full fruit growth or attachment to the plant.