
Wild Tomato Gene Key to Creating Pest-Resistant Tomatoes
May 2, 2019 |
Researchers from Michigan State University have identified an evolutionary function in wild tomato plants that could be used in developing modern pest-resistant tomatoes.
The study traced the evolution of a specific gene that produces a sticky compound in the tips of the trichomes, or hairs, on the Solanum pennellii plant found in the Atacama desert of Peru. The sticky hairs act as natural insect repellants to protect the plant and help ensure its survival and reproduction. The gene exists in the wild plant, but not in cultivated tomatoes as this defensive trait may have been removed by breeders previously.
The team used genetic and genomic approaches, including the CRISPR gene-editing technology, to the wild tomato plant to discover the functions of specific genes, metabolites and pathways. The team was able to identify an invertase-like enzyme specific to the cells at the tips of the sticky hairs. Invertases regulate many aspects of growth and development in plants. In the wild tomato, the enzyme evolved to facilitate the production of new insecticidal compounds.
For more details, read the article in MSU Today.
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- New ISAAA Global Coordinator
- Kenyans Embrace Dialogue on Genetically Modified Crops
- Wild Tomato Gene Key to Creating Pest-Resistant Tomatoes
- 'Exotic' Genes to Help Improve Cotton Yield and Quality
- U.S. FDA Approves Arctic® Fuji Apple
- Surge in Adoption of Hybrid and Biotech Crops Boost Indian Seed Market
- 22 European Business Organizations Call for Pro-Innovation Plant Breeding Rules in the EU
- Study Concludes Risk and Unnaturalness Cannot Justify EU's Strict GMO Policy
- The Ethics Council of Denmark: It's Time for New Debate on GM Plants
-
Research Highlights
- Scientists Investigate Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Black Goji Berry
-
From the BICs
- International Conference on Microbes for Sustainable Agriculture Held in Lahore, Pakistan
-
Plant
- Australia Updates Gene Technology Regulations; Will Not Regulate Gene Editing in Plants Without New Genetic Material
- Mutagenesis of FAD2 Genes in Peanut with CRISPR-Cas9 Based Gene Editing
- Experts Develop a Haploid-Inducer Mediated Genome Editing System for Faster Maize Breeding
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 23, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 16, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet