Tomato

TL;DR

Tomato is a widely consumed crop and a model for fruit research, with recent genetic advances helping improve productivity and quality despite climate change.

Contribution

The paper highlights recent genetic and metabolic insights in tomato that aid breeding and cultivation practices.

Findings

Tomato genetics have advanced since the 2012 genome draft, improving understanding of growth and stress resistance.

Phytohormones and transcription factors are key in coordinating fruit development and quality mechanisms.

Metabolic roles are crucial for fruit quality and are being targeted for better breeding and cultivation.

Abstract

Tomato is both one of the most consumed horticultural crops and the model species for fleshy fruits. While impressive yields are now obtained, the tomato sector must face the numerous threats to these advances in productivity due to the consequences of climate change. Since the first draft genome sequence in 2012, our understanding of tomato genetics has advanced dramatically, greatly facilitating the identification of mechanisms involved in growth, development, resistance to stress, and organoleptic quality. This intensive investigation has broadened our understanding of the integration and coordination of these mechanisms by phytohormones and transcription factors, as well as the roles played by metabolism, particularly in establishing fruit quality, with the aim to better target breeding programmes and to develop innovative cultivation practices.