Beets helped purple tomatoes that were created in Germany

Researchers from the Institute of Plant Biochemistry. Leibniz in Halle, Germany, created purple tomatoes using genetic engineering techniques. To do this, they inserted genes responsible for betanin biosynthesis into the plant, and activated them in ripening fruits, writes freshplaza. Betanine is not usually produced by tomatoes. It is extracted from red beets and used as a natural food coloring. It is worth noting that the main goal of the study was not to create a new tomato variety for consumption, but rather to improve genetic engineering methods. They are much easier to analyze, producing a clearly visible pigment. “But these tomatoes are completely safe to eat and even very healthy,” says lead author of the study, Sylvester ...