Scientists in Spain used genetic engineering to enrich tomatoes with extra flavonoids and amino acids. The results were published in Plant Biotechnology Journal.
The study showed that methods such as gene editing and cisgenesis let researchers “tune” plant metabolism to raise vitamin and micronutrient levels. More nutritious crops could help prevent nutrient deficiencies in older people and vegetarians.
Flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites that help prevent cardiovascular disease and colon cancer. Valine, leucine and isoleucine make up about 18% of the amino acids in muscle protein and are critical for building skeletal muscle. Compared with regular tomatoes, the edited fruit contained 21 times more leucine, nine times more valine, three times more isoleucine and 45 times more quercetin.
