A group of Argentinian and Brazilian researchers have discovered a protein able to double the harvest index for tomato plants in laboratory conditions by producing heavier fruits in larger amounts.
This is the work of a gene that regulates the sugar flow between leaves and fruits. Consequently, the discovery of the Sugar Partition Affecting (SPA) protein "paves the way for the development of new strategies to increase food production volumes," stated the main author of the project, Luisa Bermúdez.
For his part, the head of the group devoted to structural and functional genomics of solanaceous species of INTA Castelar's Biotechnology Institute, Fernando Carrari, added that "the discovery will contribute to the understanding of how this species' genome works, as it focuses on understanding the role of a single gene which, in agronomic terms, seems to play a key role in modifying productive parameters."
As explained by a CONICET researcher working at INTA Castelar, after the photosynthesis, the amount of sucrose reaching the fruits is regulated, among other mechanisms, by protein complexes including SPA, "and while many other factors play a role in the transport, we observed that when altering the levels of this protein, the process is deeply affected."
The researchers discovered that, when "turned off", the plants started producing a larger amount of fruits. This functionality (or lack thereof) could be very useful to growers seeking to improve their crops' efficiency.
Source: Inta