New Gene Could Lead to Better Bug-Resistant Plants

Trichomes in wild tomatoes were found to produce acyl compounds that could be used in fending-off insect attack. This finding was discovered by a team of scientists in Michigan State University led by Anthony Schilmiller and Robert Last. Genes that are involved in the acyl production were discovered and identified. The location of the trichomes and its accompanying secreted acyl compound becomes the first line of defense in insect attack.

Cultivated tomatoes no longer contain these trichomes, hence resistance to insects is lowered. The discovery which was published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the first gene that partipates in the production of the protective sugars in cultivated tomatoes. The gene is only active in one specific cell of one trichome type. This discovery and immediate transfer of the gene to cultivated tomates as well as other solanaceous crops such as potatoes, peppers, eggplants and petunias would provide another strategy in fighting insects.

Full Article can be downloaded at http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/09/12/1207906109.full.pdf+html?sid=4b8ac70d-c881-4a62-b3e3-dddc25d4736e. News article can be seen at http://news.msu.edu/story/new-gene-could-lead-to-better-bug-resistant-plants/