Scientists have identified the crucial phase when tomatoes are most vulnerable to extreme heat, unlocking potential pathways for developing heat-resistant crops.
Why it matters: Climate change threatens global food security, with crop yields expected to drop 2.5-16% per degree Celsius of warming. This research offers a targeted approach to protecting tomato production, a vital global crop.
- Current commercial varieties like Heinz are particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
Key finding: The pollen tube growth phase is the critical period when heat tolerance mechanisms determine successful fruit production.
“We’re trying to figure out thermoregulation at a molecular and cellular level… so that we can target those in commercial plant cultivars and conserve everything about them except for this one aspect that makes them vulnerable to extreme heat.”
Sorel V. Yimga Ouonkap, research associate at Brown University
The process:
- Researchers studied heat-tolerant tomato varieties from the Philippines, Russia, and Mexico
- Analyzed gene expression in pollen exposed to high temperatures
- Collaborated with University of Arizona to study pollen tube growth under heat stress
Keep in mind: While promising, practical applications like heat-resistance treatments are still years away from implementation.
Real-world impact: This research could lead to:
- Development of heat-resistant versions of popular commercial tomato varieties
- Preservation of desired crop characteristics while improving heat tolerance
- Creation of targeted treatments for protecting crops during heat waves
TL;DR
- Scientists identified the specific growth phase when tomatoes are most vulnerable to heat damage.
- Heat-tolerant tomato varieties show enhanced pollen tube growth under high temperatures.
- The findings could lead to new methods for protecting commercial tomato crops from climate change.
Read the Paper
Enhanced pollen tube performance at high temperature contributes to thermotolerant fruit and seed production in tomato