Continuous Light-Tolerant Tomato Plants via Wild Gene Introgression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tomato plants typically suffer from chlorosis, necrosis, and poor biomass production when exposed to continuous light, making it lethal for the crop, and existing varieties lack tolerance to this condition, limiting yield improvements.
Innovation Solution
Identification of a quantitative trait locus (gene) associated with tolerance to continuous light in wild tomato relatives, which is introgressed into non-tolerant tomato plants using genetic markers, allowing for the selection and breeding of continuous light-tolerant tomato plants with increased yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous light is used to extend photoperiod for yield improvement, then productivity increases, but the plant suffers from chlorosis, necrosis and poor biomass production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the photoperiod parameter from conventional 16-hour light cycles to continuous light exposure (24-hour photoperiod). This fundamental parameter change enables the plant to accumulate more photosynthates and extend the photosynthetic period, thereby increasing yield while the introduced gene prevents the harmful effects typically associated with continuous light exposure
2Quantity of substance
If continuous light exposure is applied to increase photosynthetic period, then biomass production increases, but leaf chlorosis and necrosis occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of continuous light (which normally causes chlorosis and necrosis) into a beneficial outcome by introducing a gene from wild tomato relatives that confers tolerance to continuous light. The gene enables the plant to withstand continuous light exposure and utilize it for increased photosynthesis and biomass production without suffering the typical harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physiological parameters of the plant by introducing foreign genetic material that alters the plant's response to light exposure. The introduced gene modifies parameters such as chlorophyll stability, antioxidant levels, and stress response mechanisms, allowing the plant to maintain health under continuous light conditions while increasing biomass accumulation
3Productivity
If longer photoperiods are used to improve yield, then productivity increases, but commercially used varieties show lethal effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the lethal effect of continuous light on commercial tomato varieties into a beneficial growing condition by introducing a tolerance gene. The gene converts what was previously a harmful or lethal stressor into a productive extended photoperiod that increases yield without causing damage
Solution Approach 2:
The introduced gene acts as an intermediary that mediates between the plant and the continuous light environment. It provides protective functions such as enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, stabilizing chlorophyll, and activating stress response pathways, thereby enabling the plant to survive and thrive under continuous light conditions that would otherwise be lethal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of selecting a tomato plant comprising exposing a tomato plant and determining whether said plant exhibits tolerance to exposure to continuous light, wherein said tolerance is indicated by decreased level of chlorosis upon said exposure, and further determining whether said plant exhibits a significant increase in yield when exposed to continuous light. The invention further relates to a method for increasing the yield of a tomato plant line, said method comprising selecting a tomato plant by the method of the invention; crossing the thus selected plant with a plant of a said tomato plant line to produce offspring plants; optionally backcrossing or selfing said offspring plant to produce further offspring plants, and selecting from said offspring plants a plant having tolerance to continuous light and having increased yield as compared to said plant of the original tomato plant line.