The flavor of tomato fruits is mostly influenced by the accumulation of sugars and organic acids. During fruit
ripening a conversion of starch to sugars occurs, which modulates significantly the taste and consequently the
quality of the ripe tomato fruits. β-Amylases, a group of major starch hydrolytic enzymes involved in starch
degradation were examined in developing cherry tomatoes. Our results suggest that the enzyme activity and
the gene transcript accumulation of plastidial β-amylase isoenzymes were elevated during the late stages of
fruit development indicating a participation of the enzyme in starch depletion and in the increase of total soluble
sugar levels in ripe tomatoes.