POTTSTOWN PA – If you’re spending time growing a tomato crop this summer, and it’s proving to be a disappointment, don’t despair. Future help may be on the way from Texas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given part of a $16.2 million grant to a research project at Texas A&M University, it announced Wednesday (July 5, 2023). The study’s goal: to develop “the ‘holy grail’ of tomatoes.”
The university’s AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco has been given the job of breeding a best-ever tomato. So far, that’s defined as one with exceptional “tomato firmness, shelf life, (and) nutritional value.” If that tomato can be grown anywhere, from western Montgomery County to western Montana and beyond, it’s likely to be considered a winner.
The trait for superior tomato firmness has already been created at the AgriLife center, which was among its qualifications for the grant. Now its efforts will be “to dissect the genetics and effects on human health attributes, flavor, and aroma” that relate to the firmer product. It hopes to combine the results to yield a potential super tomato, long sought by agricultural producers and consumers.
“Development of flavorful and nutritious tomatoes with a long shelf life, good appearance, and high yield would lead to increased tomato consumption,” Weslaco AgriLife Center Director Dirk Hays, Ph.D., observes. In turn, he adds, they would “contribute to healthier lives for consumers, and improved livelihoods for producers.”
Previous tomato improvement attempts with the genes that delay softening have had the unfortunate effect of negatively affecting fruit color, flavor, and human health attributes, according to project leader by Carlos Avila, Ph.D., an associate professor in vegetable breeding at Weslaco.
Avila reports the newest AgriLife tomato line produces a firm tomato that does not “leak” when sliced or diced. It also shows a uniformly red color. Both are traits highly desired by the industry and consumers. Improving aroma and taste are next.
Photo provided by the Texas A&M University AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco
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