Spanish study reveals cold-resistant tomato

Recent research in the field of agricultural biotechnology indicates a promising advance for the cultivation of tomatoes in cold regions. Scientists in Spain have discovered a natural mechanism that allows the plant to resist low temperatures without compromising growth, a result that can reduce losses and increase productivity in times of climate change. The study was conducted by researchers at the Center for Agrigenomic Research (CRAG) in Barcelona and published in the journal Plant Physiology. The team led by Albert Ferrer and Teresa Altabella identified that the increase in glycosylated sterol levels, compounds that are part of the cell membranes, gives the plant greater tolerance to cold. These sterols stabilize the cell structure and activate hormonal and molecular responses that protect the plant's metabolism from damage caused by low temperatures. The tomato, a species of tropical origin, has its growth impaired when exposed to temperatures below 12 °C. To test the ...