Plant materials and growth conditions Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Momotaro 8; Takii Seed Co., Ltd., Japan) were grown in a greenhouse with acrylic panels. The temperature was maintained within the range 15 35°C. Tomato plugs were grown in rockwool cubes (75 mm 75 mm 65 mm, Delta 4G, Grodan, Netherlands) and transplanted to rockwool slabs (900 mm 195 mm 75 mm; Grotop Master 2075 A1W, Grodan, Netherlands) when the first truss was visible. The plants were fertilized with a half-strength Otsuka-A solu