Scientists at Leicester University in the UK have discovered a protein that ripens fruits early and could boost their value and sales dramatically.
The finding would enable farmers to accelerate or delay the ripening of entire fruits to prevent them falling victim to unseasonal weather.
The researchers have applied for a patent and are planning to test their discovery on tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus fruits.
They demonstrated for the first time that a regulatory system that governs how proteins are broken down in plant cells also affects chloroplasts – structures that control photosynthesis.
Using thale cress they showed that altering a particular gene could change the speed with which chloroplasts transform into other structures in plant cells, including those involved in the ripening of fruit.
Testing the mechanism on crop plants will prove whether it could one day be used commercially to ensure fruit always ripens at the right time, the researchers explain.
“We are already transferring the work into tomatoes. So I would think, within a year, we will know whether or not it is going to work in principle," project leader Paul Jarvis says.
"It is incredible to get to this point – it has been a long journey. We have known for some time that this was going to be a big breakthrough.”
Because the same regulatory system governs various other aspects of plant development, such as how quickly leaves age, it could also be used for other purposes such as keeping crops alive for longer periods, he says.
