Finding the Best Places for Wild Tomatoes to Improve Cultivated Tomato Farming

Jenn Hoskins
23rd July, 2024

Finding the Best Places for Wild Tomatoes to Improve Cultivated Tomato Farming

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • The study by Sun Yat-sen University explored wild tomatoes to improve the resilience of domesticated tomatoes in China
  • Suitable habitats for wild tomatoes closely match current regions for domesticated tomatoes, suggesting shared habitat needs
  • Wild tomatoes show higher variation in drought tolerance, offering potential traits for breeding more resilient domesticated tomatoes
Climate change poses significant threats to global agriculture, including the cultivation of tomatoes, a staple crop worldwide. Domesticated tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are believed to have originated from the wild tomato species (S. pimpinellifolium). Recent research conducted by Sun Yat-sen University[1] has explored the potential of wild tomatoes to provide insights into improving the resilience of domesticated tomatoes, especially in the face of climate change. The study compared climate data between wild and domesticated tomatoes, utilizing the MaxEnt model to predict suitable regions for wild tomato cultivation in China. The findings revealed a high consistency between the suitable habitats for wild tomatoes and the current cultivated regions for domesticated tomatoes. This suggests that the habitat requirements of domesticated tomatoes have largely descended from their wild ancestors. Consequently, the habitat information of wild tomatoes can serve as a valuable reference for optimizing the cultivation of domesticated tomatoes in China. One of the critical aspects of this study was assessing the drought tolerance of both wild and domesticated tomato accessions. While the average drought tolerance did not differ significantly between the two groups, the wild tomato accessions exhibited a higher variation in drought tolerance levels. This variation can be harnessed for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing the drought resistance of domesticated tomatoes. The findings of this study align with previous research highlighting the importance of crop wild relatives (CWRs) in expanding the genetic diversity of domesticated crops[2]. CWRs have been recognized for providing breeders with essential traits that enhance crop resilience and productivity[3]. The genetic diversity present in wild tomato species can be a crucial resource for developing more resilient tomato varieties that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of conserving and accessing CWRs to ensure food security. A comprehensive national inventory and conservation gap analysis conducted in the United States revealed that many CWRs are threatened in their natural habitats and underrepresented in conservation repositories[4]. This highlights the need for coordinated efforts to conserve these valuable genetic resources and facilitate their use in crop improvement. The historical context of tomato domestication and breeding also provides valuable insights into the current study. Previous research has shown that human selection has significantly altered the genome of tomatoes, resulting in modern varieties with desirable traits such as larger fruit size and specific fruit colors[5]. However, this selection process has also led to the loss of genetic diversity, making modern tomatoes more vulnerable to environmental stresses. By leveraging the genetic diversity of wild tomatoes, breeders can introduce new traits that enhance the resilience of domesticated tomatoes. In conclusion, the study conducted by Sun Yat-sen University demonstrates the potential of using wild tomato species to improve the cultivation and resilience of domesticated tomatoes in China. By understanding the habitat requirements and drought tolerance variations of wild tomatoes, breeders can develop more resilient tomato varieties that can better withstand the challenges of climate change. This research builds on previous findings[2][3][4][5] and underscores the importance of conserving and utilizing crop wild relatives to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and food production.

AgricultureGeneticsPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Prediction of suitable regions of wild tomato provides insights on domesticated tomato cultivation in China

Published 22nd July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-024-05410-z

Related Studies

2) Genomics of crop wild relatives: expanding the gene pool for crop improvement.

https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12454

3) Reap the crop wild relatives for breeding future crops.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.08.009

4) Crop wild relatives of the United States require urgent conservation action.

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2007029117

5) Genomic analyses provide insights into the history of tomato breeding.

https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.3117


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