Chinese and Australian researchers used the CRISPR/Cas9 tool to silence two genes, creating a tomato that emits the aroma of buttered popcorn. The tomatoes appear ordinary but carry a surprisingly sweet scent reminiscent of premium fragrant rice. The study was published online on January 24 in the Journal of Integrative Agriculture.
In a research greenhouse in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, the tomatoes looked ordinary, but they carried a surprisingly sweet scent—the aroma of buttered popcorn. A team of Chinese and Australian researchers did not aim to restore the tomato’s traditional flavor profile but instead drew inspiration from fragrant rice.
They simultaneously silenced two genes responsible for suppressing aromatic compounds, SlBADH1 and SlBADH2. This led the tomatoes to emit the signature scent of premium fragrant rice or fresh buttered popcorn, primarily due to the compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline.
Xu Shengchun, deputy director of the Biotechnology Research Institute at Xianghu Laboratory and corresponding author of the paper, wrote: “People like fragrant rice, and its selling price is higher than that of ordinary rice.” The research seeks to enhance the tomato’s sensory appeal, potentially increasing its market value.
The paper was published online on January 24 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Integrative Agriculture. The study, led by Zhejiang Xianghu Laboratory, highlights the application of gene-editing technology in agricultural innovation.