Genetic code of tomato cracked

The full genome sequence of a tomato breed called Heinz 1706 and a draft sequence of a wild variety known as Solanum pimpinellifolium were published in the journal Nature.

Sequencing a genome is basically decoding an organism's DNA -- which then works like a blueprint to help scientists understand the organism, and potentially improve it.

The team, which finally achieved success in their research after nine years of hard work, said the sequences provide the most detailed look of an estimated 35,000 genes possessed by the popular vegetable.

Decoding these genes can help understand the different types of proteins found in organisms, and how these proteins make that species different from every other species, the researchers said.

These kinds of insights from the genome could help crop researchers improve tomatoes' yield, nutritional content, disease resistance, taste and colour, said James Giovannoni, of Cornell University, one of 300 scientists involved in the Tomato Genome Consortium (TGC).

"For any characteristic of the tomato, whether it's taste, natural pest resistance or nutritional content, we've captured virtually all those genes," Giovannoni was quoted as saying by LiveScience.

"Tomato genetics underlies the potential for improved taste every home gardener knows and every supermarket shopper desires and the genome sequence will help solve this and many other issues in tomato production and quality."

Knowing the sequence of one tomato can help breeders and seed companies get a grasp on what makes different varieties, like heirloom tomatoes, different from the generic grocery tomato, the researchers said.

Because the variability between two varieties is pretty small, it's easier to use the Heinz 1706 genome as a guide, and pinpoint the differences that lead to changes in colour, taste, texture, size and shape that distinguish one variety from another, they said.

The TGC involved scientists from 14 countries, including India, Argentina, China, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Britain, the US and others. (More)