News & Events

Tomato fruit firmness is a critical determinant of postharvest quality, dictating storage, ultimate shelf life, and market value. While previous research on tomato fruit firmness has largely confined to wild or heirloom accessions, the genetic basis underlying this trait in modern elite breeding lines remains largely unexplored. In this study, we dissect the genetic architecture of fruit firmness using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between the modern inbred line CF-1 and the conventional cultivar Moneymaker.

Researchers in Brazil have developed genetically engineered sugarcane with enhanced glyphosate tolerance by modifying a key plant enzyme. The study demonstrates a potential strategy to improve weed control in sugarcane without affecting overall plant growth.The research team introduced and overexpressed a mutated version of the plant's own EPSPS gene, known as ScEPSPS. The modified plants were able to survive high levels of glyphosate that would normally inhibit growth.

Researchers from the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), Kenya BioVax Institute, and the Technical University of Kenya found that the public perceptions towards genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Kenya remain divided despite growing awareness. The findings highlight ongoing misconceptions and limited awareness of biotechnology developments, even after the commercialization of Bt cotton in the country.

Typical and atypical declines in cognitive function, as well as increases in chronic, low-grade inflammation and impaired vascular function are all impacted by the ageing process. Flavonoid-rich foods/beverages have been extensively shown to impact human cognition and to modulate immune and/or vascular function, although the cause-and-effect relationship between these factors is unclear. Here, we examine the acute (2 hours) and short-term (8 days) effects of anthocyanin-rich black rice on cognition, inflammation, and vascular function in older adults

An international team of researchers, including scientists from the University of Adelaide, has identified a genetic mutation that could triple wheat yields. The discovery focuses on activating the dormant gene WUSCHEL-D1 (WUS-D1), which enables wheat flowers to develop three ovaries instead of one, potentially boosting the number of grains per spike and increasing productivity on existing farmland.

The Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Máximo Torero, warned that the ongoing disruption to the Strait of Hormuz trade corridor is triggering one of the most severe shocks to global commodity flows in recent years, with significant implications for food security, agricultural production, and global markets.Speaking at a United Nations daily press briefing, Torero highlighted that tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed by more than 90 percent within days of the escalation

Females of the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) disproportionately oviposit in unripe fruits, despite their lower nutritional value compared to ripe fruits, but the sensory cues driving such counterintuitive site selection have not been determined. Here, using an oriental fruit fly–mango interaction system, we identified a specific flavonoid compound, hesperidin, as a major avoidance cue driving oviposition site selection in this species

Scientists have developed a way to visualize plant stress by engineering crops that light up when they are under attack. Using advanced biosensors, researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the biotech startup Planta have created the first autoluminescent plants that emit a fluorescent glow when they experience physical damage or herbivore threats. This bioluminescence is triggered by a rapid wave of calcium signaling that travels from the site of injury to the rest of the plant, acting as a high-speed SOS signal to activate defense genes.

Scientists at Cornell University have engineered E. coli to act as a living sensor capable of detecting and recording arsenic exposure in the environment. The new biosensor is designed to work even in anaerobic environments where arsenic contamination is a major concern. The study provides proof of principle that could help monitor toxic pollutants in challenging environments.

The free amino acid (FAA) content in edamame seeds is a determinant of sweetness and umami taste; however, its genetic regulation remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, to elucidate the genetic basis of FAA accumulation, we identified major QTLs and causal genes. We developed a recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between the Japanese cultivar Enrei (low FAA) and the Japanese landrace edamame Shirayama (high FAA).

A gene-edited barley variety developed by Rothamsted Research has become the first crop to receive a marketing authorization under the United Kingdom's new regulatory pathway for precision breeding. This decision follows the implementation of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which aims to streamline the commercialization of crops edited to possess beneficial traits that could have occurred naturally.

Industrialized countries pioneered biotech/GM crop adoption between 1996 and 2011, but the global landscape shifted in 2012. From 2012 to 2024, developing countries outpaced their industrialized counterparts in total hectares planted with biotech/GM crops. This is according to the latest report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, Inc., published this month.