A new study published in Plant Physiology opens the door to developing more robust and cold-resistant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties. The findings reveal that increasing glycosylated sterol levels in tomato enhances cold tolerance by stabilizing cell membranes and activating hormonal signalling pathways. Genetically modified plants exhibit an earlier response to cold stress, with greater activation of antioxidant enzymes, stress-defence genes involved in abiotic stress response, and polyamine biosynthesis pathways.
The study, a significant step towards improving tomato production in cold climates, was led by professors Albert Ferrer and Teresa Altabella, from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona and the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG).
The strategy described in the study does not negatively affect plant growth, opening new biotechnological avenues for developing more cold-resistant tomato varieties.
A tomato's Achilles heel
Due to its tropical origin, the tomato is sensitive to cold temperatures, especially those in the 0 - 12°C range. The optimal growth temperature for tomatoes is 20 - 28°C, and exposures to temperatures below 10-12 °C negatively impacts their development.
