Using thale cress they showed that altering a particular gene could change the speed with which chloroplasts transform into other structures in plant cells, including those involved in the ripening of fruit.
Testing the mechanism on crop plants will prove whether it could one day be used commercially to ensure fruit always ripens at the right time, the researchers explain.
?We are already transferring the work into tomatoes. So I would think, within a year, we will know whether or not it is going to work in principle," project leader Paul Jarvis says.
"It is incredible to get to this point ? it has been a long journey. We have known for some time that this was going to be a big breakthrough.?
Because the same regulatory system governs various other aspects of plant development, such as how quickly leaves age, it could also be used for other purposes such as keeping crops alive for longer periods, he says.
Source: Fresh Plaza
Published on: 11/23/2012
Agriculture
Scientists at Leicester University in the UK have discovered a protein that ripens fruits early and could boost their value and sales dramatically.
The finding would enable farmers to accelerate or delay the ripening of entire fruits to prevent them falling victim to unseasonal weather.
The researchers have applied for a patent and are planning to test their discovery on tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus fruits.
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Agriculture
UK scientists discover ripening control protein
The finding would enable farmers to accelerate or delay the ripening of entire fruits to prevent them falling victim to unseasonal weather.
The researchers have applied for a patent and are planning to test their discovery on tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus fruits.
They demonstrated for the first time that a regulatory system that governs how proteins are broken down in plant cells also affects chloroplasts ? structures that control photosynthesis.
- Cloning Of Plants
Plant cloning is the production of a cell, cell component, or plant that is genetically identical to the unit or individual from which it was derived. The term?clone? is derived from the Greek word klon, meaning a slip or twig. Hence, it is an appropriate...
- Dna In Plants
DNA in Plants DNA is the hereditary or genetic material, present in all cells, that carries information for the structure and function of living things. In the plant kingdom, DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is contained within the membrane-bound cell structures...
- Structure And Types Of Fruit
Structure and Types of FruitFruits are the seed-containing reproductive organs, including nuts and grains, produced by angiosperms (flowering plants). When most people think of a fruit, what typically comes to mind is a juicy, edible object, such as an...
- Hormones
Plant hormones are the major group of chemical messengers by which most plant activities are controlled. The five different groups of hormones regulate virtually every aspect of plant growth and development. The majority of higher plants begin life as...
- Tomato?s Genome Sequence Finally Cracked!
44 Though science has still not replied to the eternal question of whether tomato is a fruit or a vegetable, it has stepped closer to answering it. The full genome sequence of tomato has been discovered by an international team of scientists, working...