New Tomato Variety Trumps Extreme Drought with High Yields, Low Water Needs — Israel

Because of its low water needs, an Israeli research team was able to create a new tomato variety that can withstand prolonged periods of drought and still produce large yields.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been successful in creating tomato varieties that can produce a high yield even during a severe drought.

New Tomato Variety: High Yields, Low Water Needs

The higher yield, according to the researchers, was brought on by interactions between two tomato genome regions. They also concluded that the new tomato variety requires little water and produces more in harsh weather.

This is in contrast to the typical tomato plant's watering requirements. A general guideline is to water tomatoes about 1.5 to 2 inches per week for a plant in the ground, according to All About Gardening. However, since weather conditions like wind, heat, rain, humidity, and soil type can all affect that number, it can go either way. Of course, the tomato plant's age and the stage it is in also have a significant impact on how much water it requires.

Israel and Tomato Consumption

Tomatoes go well in salads, according to more than half of Israelis. Additionally, 11% prefer cooked tomatoes in shakshuka and 18% say they eat plain tomatoes. Tomatoes won't be sold in the market, though, as the temperature rises.

The findings of the study demonstrated the value of using wild species when cultivating plants. The distinct population structure allowed for the precise mapping of tomato genes and the discovery of interdependent effects. It demonstrated the potential for extensive application in additional plants while enhancing yield.

Pest control is necessary for tomatoes grown in open fields. They require nourishment and routine watering. However, alternative varieties and contemporary cultivation techniques are required due to climate change and severe water scarcity.

Making a New Tomato Variety

Solanum pennellii and Solanum lycopersicum, two different tomato species, were crossed for the study. One is an inbred modern processing tomato, and the other is a green-fruited, drought-tolerant wild tomato grown in the deserts of western Peru. They located the parts of the genome that influence traits related to agriculture, such as yield. Zamir sequenced the DNA of 1,400 plants and thoroughly analyzed the data. Torgeman pointed out that in order to show that yield barriers can be overcome, breeding efforts using conventional and genomics-assisted techniques were combined.

He continued to say that studies of complex traits in plants, such as yield and drought resistance, have been based on much smaller populations of about 200 species.

The results of the study showed that two regions on various chromosomes resulted in a 20-50% boost in total tomato production in both irrigated and dry conditions.

According to Torgeman's analysis of the information that has been published, the team is growing new varieties with the intention of putting them on the food market, WION reports.

The study was carried out in conjunction with the European Union as part of the Horizon 2020 program. It was recently published in the journal PNAS by authors Torgeman and Zamir.