Fruit trichome density outweighs cuticle thickness as the dominant barrier to postharvest water loss in tomato
Xinyue Liang, M Y Li, Li Huang, Wei Zhang, Sen Zhang, Xueting Liu, Shutong Xiong, Lida Zhang, Kexuan Tang, Qian Shen
This study shows that fruit trichome density is a more significant factor than cuticle thickness in determining postharvest water loss in tomatoes, as mutants with fewer trichomes had reduced water loss and longer shelf life despite thinner cuticles.
Plant Science · Jun 16, 2026Peer-reviewedPlant Biology