Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
China, Dec 28 - Chinese scientists have made an important discovery in the field of agriculture by developing a new method that significantly increases crop productivity when exposed to high temperatures.
The Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used an innovative gene editing tool to introduce a heat-stress-sensitive element into the tomato LIN5 gene. This change improves the gene's expression at high temperatures and reduces sugar deficiency in the fruit.
The experiments carried out in different conditions, both in the greenhouse and in the open field, showed that the new technique increased tomato yield between 14% and 47% under normal conditions and between 26% and 33% under heat stress conditions. , avoiding between 56% and 100% of yield losses due to heat.
Furthermore, experiments with rice have shown that this genetic engineering technique can increase rice production by 7% to 13% under normal conditions and 25% under high temperature conditions.
Scientists say that these experiments have significantly improved the resistance of crops to climate change and have opened a new era in the design of stable, high-yield varieties. (Text and Photo: Cubadebate)
