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
From molten salt to liquid air: clean energy’s weird storage revolution
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM There’s something strange about where the clean energy transition has gotten stuck. Generating power from the sun and ...
Read MoreSoft decluttering: the low-pressure method for a tidier home
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You know the feeling: you walk toward the hall closet with good intentions, reach for the handle, and ...
Read More5 expert-recommended ways to cope with holiday stress
Financial strain, social pressure, and countless to-dos make the period between Thanksgiving and New Year's the most stressful time of year, according to numerous ...
Read MoreOslo’s quiet revolution: how electric construction sites are changing the game
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine walking past a bustling construction site and hearing… almost nothing. In Oslo, that’s becoming the new normal. ...
Read More
