A Dutch crop technology company has developed a breakthrough method to create stable graft chimeras —plants that merge the external layer of one species with the internal tissue of another. This breakthrough could result in completely new developments. new categories of vegetables , designed with specific traits such as pest resistance or drought tolerance.
A Fresh Start In Grafting
Although grafting has historically been employed in agriculture to merge the favorable characteristics of various plant types, this process typically necessitates manual grafting for each separate plant.
More rarely, so-called graft chimeras Can arise at the point where grafted plants meet—a random occurrence wherein a shoot forms having the outer tissue of one plant and the inner tissues of another.
These events have occurred previously, like in the instance of the Bizzarria Citrus, but so far, these outcomes have been due to mere coincidence.
Keygene’s Reproducible Technique
KeyGene Based in the Netherlands, this company asserts they have successfully refined the technique for producing graft chimeras consistently. According to their researcher Jeroen Stuurman, they've devised a procedure to generate such entities at an industrial level utilizing different cultivars. potatoes , tomatoes , aubergines , and even sweet and chilli peppers .
Although the precise method is not revealed, the firm has managed to create a new type of potato. skin of Pimpernel and the flesh of Bintje .
It has become the very first graft chimera to ever receive an award. plant breeders’ rights , a type of intellectual property akin to copyright in horticulture," Stuurman explains. "This allowed us to move forward to the next phase."
Why Do Farmers Possibly Hurry To Cultivate These Hybrids?
This method introduces potential applications well beyond just unconventional crops. By moving particular surface characteristics from one plant species to another, scientists can boost resilience against environmental pressures without changing the internal makeup of the plants.
For example, trichomes —minute hair-like structures on a plant’s surface—can be crucial for pest resistance by releasing deterrents or ensnaring insects with adhesive secretions.
Reproducing these structures via traditional breeding or genetic engineering is challenging due to their intricate genetic networks. As reported by New Scientist , this “ This method enables current varieties to receive an effective 'skin graft.' ,” the article explains.
Ready For The Fields
Because potatoes are propagated from tubers rather than seeds Integrating this new kind of graft chimera into current farming techniques might be quite smooth.
“ No changes are necessary in how things are cultivated. .” explains Stuurman.
This indicates that farmers can begin cultivating these hybrid crops right away, without requiring any new machinery or procedures.
Scientific Recognition
Specialists in botany and agricultural science have applauded the new development. Charles Melnyk, an expert from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, deemed it a remarkable accomplishment: "To my knowledge, this has never been achieved previously, making their discovery truly significant."
In the meantime, Colin Turnbull from Imperial College London points out that one of the historical challenges with graft chimeras has been their instability—the propensity to revert to one of the parental forms.
However, in this instance, he recognizes that KeyGene "had to surmount this obstacle to obtain plant breeder’s rights." He further states, “The innovation appears to lie in the consistency of the ' skin graft so that they offer a commercially viable selection.
Should the company’s assertions stand up over time, this advancement has the potential to broaden the range of products accessible to customers as well as strengthen farm resilience amid shifting weather patterns .
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