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In contemporary agriculture, commercially cultivated tomatoes have reached sizes comparable to a person’s palm. However, their wild ancestors were significantly smaller and boasted a sweeter, more robust flavor due to their lower water content. Recent advancements in genetic research have paved the way for combining these desirable traits. By employing CRISPR gene-editing technology, scientists have developed innovative “mutant” tomatoes that match the size of modern varieties while enhancing sweetness and flavor. This remarkable transformation was achieved by simply turning off two specific genes.
A research team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing utilized the CRISPR-Cas9 method to pinpoint two genes responsible for sugar regulation in the tomato species Solanum lycopersicum: calcium-dependent protein kinase 27 (SlCDPK27 or SlCPK27) and its counterpart SlCDPK26. These genes function as “sugar brakes,” inhibiting enzymes that facilitate sucrose production. By deactivating these two genes, researchers succeeded in producing tomatoes with 30% higher levels of glucose and fructose compared to standard mass-produced varieties, all without altering fruit size or overall yield.
“While mutant tomatoes contain fewer seeds that are also lighter in weight, they still germinate normally,” stated the research team in their study published on November 13th in Nature. “These findings shed light on how sugar accumulation is regulated within [tomatoes] and present opportunities for increasing sugar content in larger fruit cultivars without compromising size or yield.”
The importance extends beyond just improved flavor; according to estimates from industry sources, approximately 205 million tons of tomatoes are harvested globally each year—most being up to 100 times larger than their wild counterparts. The excess water content necessitates removal during processing into products like tomato paste which incurs additional energy costs as well as financial burdens on manufacturers’ operations. Sweeter varieties could potentially streamline production processes down the line.
Furthermore since both identified genes exist across various plant species similar genetic modifications may enhance other staple crops moving forward.
The post They CRISPR’d Tomatoes To Make Them Sweet And Large appeared first on Popular Science.
