Genetic editing creates compact tomatoes for vertical farming

Pressure to produce more food in limited spaces drives research seeking to adapt crops to urban areas. In a new study, scientists developed CRISPR-edited tomatoes to grow compactly in vertical farming systems, responding to the demand for intensive production in controlled environments. From the second stage of the work, Kyung Hee University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology were responsible for the modifications in genes linked to the production of gibberellins, hormones that regulate the elongation of stems and leaves. The edits in two genes associated with the plants' stature resulted in shorter specimens, with less distance between flowers and architecture compatible with high-density crops. The analyses showed that the reduction in size did not compromise performance. The plants maintained yield and fruit quality equivalent to the reference, with weight, size, and sugar content preserved. Photosynthetic efficiency also remained stable, a point confirmed by ...