Scientists have identified a new gene modification that can make tomatoes and eggplants grow bigger, potentially boosting yields in developing countries. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory tweaked the genomes of 22 crops in the nightshade genus to improve size, yield, and traits like taste and texture.
The study found that certain genes play important roles in fruit development, including the number and shape of locules. By editing these genes into tomato and eggplant plants, researchers were able to grow bigger fruit with more locules. The findings open up new opportunities for genetic engineering in crops, potentially leading to improved nutritional value, taste, and variety.
This research builds on decades of work in tomato genetics, demonstrating the power of “pan-genetics” – a collaborative approach to studying multiple species to advance crop development.
Source: https://newatlas.com/biology/gene-edit-bigger-tomatoes-eggplants