Biologists at Brown University have identified the growth cycle phase of tomato plants that makes them most vulnerable to extreme heat, as well as the molecular mechanisms that make certain varieties more heat tolerant. The study, published in Current Biology, could inform strategies to protect the food supply in the face of climate instability as rising temperatures are predicted to reduce crop yields significantly. By studying tomato varieties that thrive in hot growing seasons, the researchers aimed to accelerate the adaptation process to make vulnerable plants more resilient to extreme heat without compromising desirable commercial traits.
The researchers realized that waiting for evolution to naturally select heat-tolerant tomato varieties would take too long and risk losing commercially desirable qualities. Instead, they focused on understanding thermotolerance at a molecular and cellular level to pinpoint areas for improvement in commercial plant cultivars. By identifying and targeting specific mechanisms that make tomatoes vulnerable to extreme heat, while conserving other qualities, they hope to enhance tomato resilience to changing growing conditions over time. This approach could enable the accumulation of various resistance mechanisms as growing conditions continue to evolve due to climate change.
The plant reproduction phase has been a focus of research in the study, particularly the growth of pollen tubes in tomato plants during hot temperatures. By studying how gene expression changes as tomato pollen is exposed to high temperatures, the researchers were able to determine that heat stress during the pollen tube growth phase significantly affects fruit and seed production in heat-sensitive tomato cultivars compared to heat-tolerant ones. By understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with thermotolerance in heat-tolerant varieties like the Tamaulipas tomato, the research team can develop strategies to enhance plant resilience to high temperatures.
Tomatoes are an ideal organism for this research due to their ability to adapt to extreme climates and their significance as a commercial crop worldwide. With the identification of the right molecular mechanisms for tomato heat tolerance, the next step is to explore specific techniques for enabling tomato growth in different climates. One potential approach could involve developing a small molecule that primes pollen in plants to withstand heat waves, allowing farmers to apply it during high-temperature periods to enhance plant resilience. While such manipulation is still a distant possibility, the researchers believe that this area of research holds great potential for future investigations.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Institutes of Health, this research project provides valuable insights into enhancing plant resilience to heat stress. By focusing on how plants respond to extreme temperatures during the reproductive phase, the researchers aim to develop strategies that can protect crop yields in the face of climate change. With the development of targeted techniques to improve tomato heat tolerance, this research opens up new possibilities for enhancing agricultural productivity and protecting food supplies in a changing climate.
