Quadratic Gröbner bases for smooth \(3\times 3\) transportation polytopes (Q968236)

A lattice polytope is smooth if its normal fan defines a smooth projective variety. \textit{G. Ewald} and \textit{A. Schmeinck} [Beitr.\ Algebra Geom.\ 34 , No.\ 2, 151--156 (1993; Zbl 0838.14041)], as well as \textit{B. Sturmfels} [Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 62(pt.2), 437--449 (1997; Zbl 0914.14022)] have asked whether the defining ideal of the projective variety defined by the normal fan of a smooth lattice polytope is generated by quadratic binomials. The paper shows that the toric ideals of \(3\times 3\) transportation polytopes are quadratically generated, except for the Birkhoff polytope \(B_3\). If the transportation polytope is not multiple of \(B_3\) then the associated ideal even has a square-free quadratic initial ideal. This class contains all smooth \(3\times 3\) transportation polytopes.