Gene-edited Tomato Exhibits Improved Drought Resistance and Fruit Yield

A study published in Plant, Cell & Environment shows improved drought resistance and fruit yield of tomatoes through endoreduplication. This study opens opportunities to develop drought-resistant tomatoes that can withstand agricultural challenges brought about by climate change.

Drought resistance is crucial for maintaining tomato yield and quality under drought conditions. Drought-resistant tomatoes are less likely to suffer from issues such as fruit cracking, blossom end rot, or reduced fruit size, leading to better-quality produce. Hence, researchers from China edited trihelix transcription factor SlGT30 gene using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to improve tomatoes.

The results of the study found that the knockout lines affected the cell size through the endoreduplication pathway, resulting in decreased stomata density in the leaves and large fruits. In addition to this, the study also observed increased cell size and cell number in knockout lines, resulting in an improved fruit size and weight of tomato. The findings of this study confirm that SlGT30 is a promising candidate for gene editing tomatoes.

For more information, read the abstract from Plant, Cell & Environment.