Projects / Programmes
The biotechnological control of the tomato fruit abscission for a higher crop yield
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.06.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Biotechnology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T490 |
Technological sciences |
Biotechnology |
fruit abscission; tomato; progammed cell death; RNase LX; biotechnological control
Researchers (7)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Abscission has a large agricultural implication during plant growth, as well as during storage and shelf life of the fresh produce. In different agricultural commodities there is a need to either inhibit or induce abscission. Premature abscission of flowers or young fruits in trees has a negative implication for yield while acceleration of abscission in different fresh produce during postharvest life and storage results in significant loss of quality. Acceleration of abscission may be required at a given time to allow improved mechanized fruit harvesting or leaf removal. Dehiscence mediating dispersal of mature seeds from the silique is believed to share common biochemical and molecular features with abscission. Recently we have demonstrated that the tomato LX RNase is involved in and required for abscission to occur and suggest that programmed cell death (PCD) is involved in abscission. Based on these novel findings we propose to develop a new biotechnological approach to manipulate the abscission process in tomato by modulating LX expression in the established tomato lines. The occurrence of PCD in the abscission zone and the specific involvement of LX will be investigated.
Significance for science
The new findings regarding the abscission and dehiscence processes in plants derive mainly from studying Arabidopsis petal abscission and it is not clear how knowledge from this system will be relevant to fruit and leaf abscission in crop plants such as tomato.
The applied tools and the results of RNase LX involvement in abscission together with the development of PCD in the abscission layer may be applied to various relevant crops.
The problem of organ separation and dehiscence has large economical implications in different crop plants and the ability to manipulate these processes using biotechnology can has large economical implication. It is hard at this early stage to estimate the size of economic contribution but even if it could be applied in tomato it will have significant economical contribution.
Significance for the country
The proposed research might lead toward advance use of biotechnology in crops plants for the benefit of agriculture and the relevant economy.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
