Genetic Pathway Found to Boost Tomato Yield Without Affecting Quality

Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown genetic mechanism that controls tomato fruit size, offering a promising new path for boosting crop yield without sacrificing quality. Published in Horticulture Research, the study from China Agricultural University reveals a regulatory module operating at the translational level—a mechanism distinct from traditional hormone and gene expression controls—that fine-tunes fruit growth. This discovery moves beyond current breeding methods, which often lead to unintended effects on the plant.

The team identified an RNA-binding protein called SlRBP1, which is highly active during early fruit development. SlRBP1 directly regulates the translation of two critical genes, SlFBA7 and SlGPIMT, which are essential for driving cell division and expansion in the tomato pericarp (fruit wall). When the researchers suppressed SlRBP1 specifically in the fruit, the tomatoes became significantly smaller, with reduced cell layers and firmness, confirming its vital role in growth.

This newly discovered SlRBP1–SlFBA7/SlGPIMT module provides plant breeders with a high-specificity target for genetic modification. Crucially, manipulating this pathway affects fruit size without impairing ripening, nutritional quality, or the overall vegetative growth of the plant. This precision control offers a sophisticated strategy for increasing tomato yields and could serve as a valuable framework for optimizing the fruit size of other important horticultural crops globally.

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