As crops become more and more resistant to pesticides, researchers are on the lookout for better alternatives that don’t require chemicals. At Michigan State University, researchers have identified an evolutionary function in wild tomato plants that modern plant breeders could use to create pest-resistant tomatoes. The study traced the evolution of a specific gene that produces a sticky compound in the tips of the trichomes, or hairs, on the Solanum pennelliiplant found in the Atacama desert of Peru—one of the harshest environments on Earth. These sticky hairs act as natural insect repellants to protect the plant, helping ensure it will survive to reproduce. Modern cultivated tomatoes make fewer of the compounds found in wild plants because—unaware of their adaptive function—breeders removed undesirable traits such as stickiness. This discovery is a step toward understanding the natural insect resistance of wild tomato plants, which could enable the introduction of this trait into cultivated tomatoes using traditional breeding practices in order to create pest-resistant tomatoes.
A newly identified gene in wild tomatoes could lead to pest-resistant tomatoes
More of Today's Solutions
Don’t feed bread to ducks! Here’s what to serve instead
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When venturing out into the Great Outdoors, it’s important never to feed the wildlife because they can become ...
Read MoreMeet Sara Khadem, an international chess master fighting for freedom
In a world where conformity may squash ambitions, an Iranian chess champion, Sara Khadem, took a courageous step that echoed a cry for independence. ...
Read MoreHow a pioneering MRI ‘signature’ predicts dementia years before s...
In a major step toward predicting dementia before its debilitating symptoms appear, researchers revealed an MRI 'signature' that could act as a warning, pinpointing ...
Read MoreThe surprising human-like intelligence of the humble bee
In the wonderful world of bumblebees, a stunning discovery calls into question the idea that intelligence is entirely determined by brain size. These tiny ...
Read More
