Fruit Development Landmarks | Days post anthesis | Descriptions of fruit development in tomato | |
---|---|---|---|
 |  | Fruit growth (Gillaspy et al1993) | Embryo/seed development |
(1) Anthesis | 0 | Mature ovary, phase I. | Mature gametes. Pollen is shed, which will land on the stigma and germinate. Pollen tubes growth through the style. |
(2) Fertilization | 1–2 | End of phase I, beginning of phase II. | Fusion of sperm and egg nuclei. |
(3) 4–16 Cell Stage Embryo | 3–6 | Phase II and III, cell division and elongation stage. | First embryo divisions. |
(4) Globular Stage Embryo | 6–10 | Phase III, cell expansion stage. | Globular embryo. |
(5) Heart Stage Embryo | 10–12 | Phase III, cell expansion stage. | Heart Stage embryo lasts approximately one day and occurs 10–12 dpa. |
(6) Torpedo Stage Embryo | 13–16 | Phase III, continued fruit enlargement. | Torpedo Stage embryo lasts approximately one day and occurs 13–16 dpa. |
(7) Coiled Stage Embryo | 20 | Phase III, continued fruit enlargement. | Cotyledon expansion and curl as they elongate. Embryo appears physically mature, but the seed is not yet viable. |
 | 20–28 |  | Seed maturation period |
(8) Seed germination | 29–31 | The fruit has reached the mature green stage. Fruit becomes sensitive to ethylene. | Seeds are becoming viable for germination. |
(9) Fruit ripening | 33–40 | Ripening starts at the onset of the breaker stage. Changes in pigmentation are visible. | After ripening of seed. |
(10) Ripe Fruit | 40 | Red ripe stage of tomato. | Â |