Biotech Updates

Queensland Researchers Develop Disease Resistant Tomatoes

October 15, 2010

Researchers at Queensland, Australia are improving the disease resistance and nutritional value of tomatoes through plant breeding techniques. According to State Government's Agri-Science Queensland group, the hybrid varieties of tomato exhibit better resistance to disease such as powdery mildew and yellow leaf curl.

Horticulturist Des McGrath stressed that these new varieties could also lessen the incidence of cancer. "Lycopene is a compound in the red skin of tomatoes which has been associated with better health outcomes for people over a long period of time," he said. "We have some sources of higher lycopene that we are introducing into breeding material and bringing them through into commercial varieties."

These new tomato varieties are expected to be available in the market by mid-2011.

For more details, visit http://www.igrain.com.au/.