title: Genetic improvement of tomato by targeted control of fruit softening.
abstract: Controlling the rate of softening to extend shelf life was a key target for researchers engineering genetically modified (GM) tomatoes in the 1990s, but only modest improvements were achieved. Hybrids grown nowadays contain 'non-ripening mutations' that slow ripening and improve shelf life, but adversely affect flavor and color. We report substantial, targeted control of tomato softening, without affecting other aspects of ripening, by silencing a gene encoding a pectate lyase.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Selman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uluisik
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Natalie H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Heygates Ltd, Bugbrooke Mills, Bugbrooke, UK.
authors.forename: Mervin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.|School of Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.|School of Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Tabot M D
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Besong
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Seeds, Jealott's Hill International Research Station, Bracknell, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Crop Protection, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Suzy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stiegelmeyer
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Nurul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samsulrizal
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Duoduo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8448-3123
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Fisk
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Seeds, Jealott's Hill International Research Station, Bracknell, UK.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Seeds, Jealott's Hill International Research Station, Bracknell, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rickett
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fray
authors.affiliation: Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanco-Ulate
authors.affiliation: Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
authors.forename: Ann L T
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craigon
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jocelyn K C
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Fich
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Skidmore Microscopy Imaging Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Skidmore Microscopy Imaging Center, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Domozych
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grierson
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Graham B
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8365-4947
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C023911:pectate lyase