Scaling the plant hydraulic system: from xylem networks to whole-plant integration

Key Points

• The aim is to explore the significance of xylem networks in tomato fruit and their role in fruit size, quality, and drought response.
• Review of existing literature on vascular networks in tomato fruit
• Analysis of the implications of vascular structure for plant hydraulic functions
• Discussion of the integration from xylem networks to overall plant system
• Highlights the relationship between vascular structure and fruit size
• Suggests that effective xylem networks enhance fruit quality
• Indicates that improved understanding of the hydraulic system can inform drought response strategies