Summary: This project integrates agronomic traits, iron biofortification, and strong viral resistance to develop pink-fruited hybrid tomato varieties with high market value.
The project aimed to create tomato cultivars that combine market-preferred pink fruit color, enhanced iron concentration, and resistance to major destructive viruses. Pink tomatoes have increasing demand especially in East Asia, motivating breeders to expand hybrid tomato portfolios. Iron biofortification was included to address global micronutrient deficiencies, as iron plays critical roles in human health such as blood pressure regulation and reduced cancer risk. Finally, TSWV and TYLCV resistance were targeted due to their devastating impact on tomato production and their ability to predispose plants to other pathogens.
Pink Tomato:Tomato exhibits a wide diversity in color, shape, and texture, and consumer preferences vary greatly across regions. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in demand for pink tomatoes, especially in East Asian countries such as China. To expand our customer portfolio and meet this growing market interest, we decided to develop a pink-fruited hybrid tomato variety.
Iron Biofortification:Iron is one of the most essential micronutrients for human health. Although many people meet their daily iron requirements through meat consumption, the rising cost of meat and limited accessibility in many regions create nutritional challenges. Therefore, we aimed to increase the iron content of tomato, which is one of the most accessible and widely consumed vegetables across the world. Iron plays critical roles in human health, including regulating blood pressure (Chan et al., 2014) and lowering the risk of several cancers such as esophageal, breast, liver, lung, prostate, and colon cancers (Farvid et al., 2022; Ali et al., 2021; Stanaway et al., 2022). Adequate iron intake also provides protection against diabetes and insulin resistance (That et al., 2022). Additionally, iron contributes to maintaining a healthy gut microbiota by supporting microbial growth and improving intestinal balance (Xia et al., 2018). That’s why we aim to increase the Fe concentration of the tomato
TSWV and TYLCV Resistance::TSWV and TYLCV are among the most destructive viral diseases affecting tomato production, causing substantial yield and quality losses (Sappah et al., 2022). In addition to their direct damage, infection by these viruses increases the plant’s susceptibility to other viral and bacterial pathogens. Considering both the direct and indirect harmful effects of these diseases, we aimed to develop tomato varieties that exhibit strong resistance to these viruses (Qi et al., 2021).
Summary: This project developed a universal PCR positive control that works across multiple disease-resistance markers, improving MAS accuracy and reducing cost.
Molecular marker–based screening is fundamental for modern plant breeding. However, each disease resistance gene traditionally requires a separate positive control, increasing cost and technical complexity. This project produced a universal positive control compatible with screening for TSWV, Fol (1–2–3), ToMV, FOR, Meloidogyne spp. (Mi, Ma, Mj), TYLCV, and Verticillium dahliae. The product has a standardized concentration (30 ng/µL), and reference gel images and purity values are available for users. This system improves reproducibility, reduces error rates, and simplifies disease resistance screening pipelines in tomato breeding.
Why a Universal Positive Control Was Needed:Many plant breeding pipelines rely on the successful implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS). PCR-based genotyping forms the backbone of MAS, and one of the most critical aspects of PCR is confirming whether the amplification has been successfully performed. For this purpose, positive controls are routinely used.However, because different diseases are controlled by resistance genes located in distinct genomic regions, most breeding programs require multiple disease-specific markers. This creates a major challenge in developing multi-disease-resistant cultivars. Consequently, many companies and academic laboratories use multiple positive controls and each of these controls applicable to only a small subset of disease-resistance markers. This increases cost, complexity, and the likelihood of technical errors.
How the Universal Control Was Developed:In this project, we developed a universal positive control that can be used across a wide range of disease-resistance PCR assays. The universal control is compatible with screening for resistance to TSWV, Fol (races 1, 2, and 3), ToMV, FOR, Meloidogyne spp. (Mi, Ma, Mj), TYLCV, and Vd.
Impact on Tomato Breeding & MAS Accuracy: The developed positive control has a concentration of 30 ng/µL, and its purity, concentration profile, and agarose gel electrophoresis images obtained from PCR reactions can be accessed using the assigned reference number. This allows users to verify their PCR performance using standardized reference data, improving the accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability of MAS-based screening in tomato breeding programs.
Summary: This thesis project evaluates whether P. indica can reduce the harmful effects of salinity and boron toxicity in wheat and improve yield.
Salinity and boron toxicity are two major abiotic stresses that frequently coexist and limit wheat productivity. Traditional solutions are slow or unsustainable, making microbial solutions increasingly valuable. P. indica, a growth-promoting root endophyte, is known to enhance stress tolerance and antioxidant defenses in many crops. This project assessed its impact on durum and bread wheat under combined stress. Results showed improved grain yield, lower Na⁺ accumulation, reduced membrane damage (lower MDA), and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, GR, POD). Co-inoculation with AMF further amplified yield improvements—up to 41% in bread wheat and 50% in durum wheat—highlighting microbial synergy as a powerful tool for sustainable wheat production.
Background and Motivation:Global food security is becoming progressively more difficult to maintain due to rising populations, changing climate patterns, and soil degradation. Wheat, responsible for nearly 16% of global caloric intake, is especially vulnerable to environmental stress. Among these stresses, salinity and boron toxicity are recognized as two of the most destructive abiotic factors limiting wheat yield. Salinity affects more than 20% of irrigated agricultural land, reduces root water uptake, causes ion toxicity, and leads to oxidative stress. Boron, while essential at low levels, becomes toxic at slightly higher concentrations, damaging plant tissues and reducing productivity. These two stresses often co-occur in many agricultural regions, placing wheat plants under severe physiological pressure. Traditional solutions—breeding stress-tolerant cultivars or applying chemical amendments—are often slow, expensive, or unsustainable. Therefore, researchers have turned toward biological approaches, focusing on beneficial microorganisms that naturally enhance plant resilience. One such microorganism is Piriformospora indica, a root-associated endophytic fungus known for improving plant growth, promoting antioxidant activity, strengthening mineral uptake, and boosting tolerance to various stresses.
Aim of the Study:This project aimed to evaluate whether P. indica could serve as a biological tool to alleviate the combined harmful effects of salinity stress and boron toxicity in wheat. The study examined two major wheat types—bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum durum)—and conducted controlled greenhouse experiments to assess plant physiology, yield components, mineral homeostasis, and oxidative stress markers under different stress conditions. The project also investigated co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to determine whether a combined microbe strategy could further enhance stress tolerance.
Significance and Impact:Findings revealed that P. indica significantly improved wheat performance when exposed to salinity and boron toxicity. This project highlights the promise of using P. indica as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to protect wheat from multiple interacting stresses. By increasing stress tolerance, strengthening antioxidant systems, and promoting overall physiological health, P. indica offers a viable long-term strategy for combating productivity loss in regions where salinity and boron toxicity threaten agricultural sustainability. The findings contribute important insights to future biological-based stress management and climate-resilient agriculture.
Summary: This project screened advanced potato breeding lines to identify genotypes carrying Rx and Ry genes that provide strong resistance to PVX and PVY.
PVX and PVY are among the most economically destructive potato viruses, often spreading through seed tubers and causing significant yield and quality losses. This project analyzed breeding lines for major resistance genes. Some lines carried the Ry gene (PVY resistance), others carried Rx (PVX resistance), and a valuable subset contained both—ideal for developing multi-virus resistant cultivars. These results support faster, more accurate parental selection in potato breeding and reduce long-term yield losses caused by viral infections.
Aim of the Project:The primary goal was to screen advanced potato breeding lines for resistance to PVX and PVY using disease-specific molecular markers. The project aimed to: Detect the presence of Rx and Ry genes (responsible for extreme resistance to PVX and PVY). Identify homozygous and heterozygous resistant genotypes. Support breeding programs by selecting suitable parental lines for virus-resistance improvement. Provide a reliable, fast, and accurate marker-assisted screening pipeline for potato breeders.
Key Findings:Several breeding lines carried Ry genes that confer strong resistance to PVY. A subset of lines also carried Rx genes, indicating strong PVX resistance. Some genotypes contained both Rx and Ry, making them extremely valuable for developing multi-virus-resistant varieties. The marker-assisted approach showed high accuracy and reproducibility across replicates. These results support the integration of MAS into potato breeding pipelines for virus resistance.