Gene Editing Improves Tomato Resistance to Drought and Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Researchers from Seoul National University and partners in Korea have identified a gene that can be edited to help tomatoes better withstand both viral infection and drought. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, the team disrupted the SlCNGC18 gene in tomato plants and found that the edited plants showed greater resistance to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) while also surviving drought conditions more effectively.

The researchers found that the edited plants accumulated more than three times less virus and developed milder disease symptoms compared with unedited plants. These plants also had higher levels of salicylic acid and increased expression of defense-related genes. Under drought conditions, the mutants recorded about seven times higher survival rates and lost less water.

The findings indicate that SlCNGC18 acts as a negative regulator of both virus resistance and drought tolerance in tomatoes. The researchers suggest that targeting this gene could help breeders develop tomato varieties with improved resilience to multiple environmental and disease-related stresses.

For more information, read the abstract from BMC Plant Biology.