Discovery in the tomato: New peptide could revolutionize plant production!

Discovery in the tomato: New peptide could revolutionize plant production!

A major discovery in plant research could revolutionize the understanding of tomato immune defenses. A research team from University of Tübingen and the University of Hohenheim has discovered a new peptide called AntiSys that is crucial for the normal growth and reproduction of tomato plants. AntiSys works by preventing the plant's immune system from overreacting. This is particularly important because excessive defense reactions can affect plant growth and productivity.

Tomatoes use the signal peptide systemin to defend themselves against predators by activating defense responses when damaged by insects. During an insect infestation, systemin is released in large quantities and activates the receptor SYR1. AntiSys, on the other hand, blocks this receptor without activating it, keeping the tomato's immune system in an inactive state.

Consequences of the discovery for agriculture

In the experiments, mutants that did not produce AntiSys grew significantly worse, had fewer fruit sets and had malformations. These results raise questions about whether similar antagonists exist in other plant species and how they can potentially be used to improve crops. The study was published in the journal Cell and could have far-reaching implications for agriculture.

The parallels to the human immune system are remarkable. Here too, antagonists dampen activating cytokines to keep inflammatory reactions in balance. This could potentially lead to further research in plant biology driving the development of resistant plants.

CRISPR/Cas9: A revolutionary technology

While the discovery of AntiSys represents an important step in plant research, the gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 is causing a stir in the scientific community. CRISPR/Cas9 is a revolutionary technique for correcting genetic mutations and creating precise genetically modified organisms. The possible applications are wide-ranging: from treating hereditary diseases to developing resilient plants.

The CRISPR system, a natural defense system in bacteria, makes it possible to specifically cut DNA and then change it using various repair mechanisms. With over 70% of the world's genome editing projects using CRISPR/Cas, this method has established itself as fundamental to modern biology. Developments such as the resistance of wheat varieties to powdery mildew or the production of gluten-free wheat are particularly noteworthy.

However, these advances also face ethical concerns. Critics argue that CRISPR/Cas should be considered a form of genetic engineering because the genome is technically manipulated. Proponents, in turn, emphasize that the tools are removed after use and that the plants do not contain any foreign genes.

Future prospects and regulations

In 2024, 1,500 researchers, including 35 Nobel Prize winners, called for genome editing methods to be recognized as legitimate breeding methods. Nevertheless, European legislation remains a sensitive issue. The ECJ ruled in 2018 that plants edited with CRISPR/Cas are considered genetically modified organisms, leading to strict regulations in the EU. However, the EU Commission is planning a reform to relax the requirements, which could offer the prospect of wider acceptance of CRISPR/Cas in Europe.

Worldwide, in countries such as the USA and China, significantly less strict regulations apply to genetically modified plants. This could result in the competitive situation between regions changing in favor of those countries that have less restrictive genetic engineering laws.