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A team of international researchers has isolated a tomato gene which can be "switched off" to increase the fruit's longevity and sweeten the fruit.
Img" Pomodori tomato. Credit: WTL photos/flickr
The find, by the University of Newcastle-based Australia-China Research Centre for Crop Improvement, could have important ramifications for the planet's food security say scientists.
According to a university news release: "The gene - INVINH1 - played a major role in limiting the amount of sugar delivered to each part of the plant and if prevented from expressing itself more sugar (glucose and fructose) could be delivered to specific parts of the plants including seeds and fruits."
"When applied to other fruits and vegetables, the technology could increase crop seed yield, fruit quality, and lengthen shelf life," it added.
"With predictions the global population may double over the next 50 years, scientists are concerned about the pressure on the world's natural resources," Associate Professor Yong-Ling Ruan, from the University's School of Environmental and Life Sciences, said in the statement.
"Faced with the impact of climate change and population increases on food supply, our research is helping to meet the challenge of how to sustain and improve crop yield and quality."
The findings of the research are published in this month's issue of The Plant Cell.
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