FARMS(@farms) STEEMCHURCH: Modification of the seeds of Solanum lycopersicum (Tomatoes)

I previously uploaded a lengthy article on my Bio-physics project on the S. lycopersicum, and it seems most steemers were glad to come across it. With this new publication, I seek to elucidiate the reader on an essential aspect of the project - genetic modification of the tomato seeds and its economical impact. Additionally, I would want to ,once again, thank the various supporters of STEEMCHURCH @farms for making this humanitarian endeavor truly successful. It is my hope that several generations may also get their share in this project.

Tomato plantation are gradually plummeting, and it is a result of the susceptibility of tomatoes to numerous diseases,unfavourable conditions,and pests such as Flea, Beetles,Spider mite, Aphids and many more. For example, the Fusarium Wilt is one of the perilous and prevalent soil-borne disease which affects tomatoes.Additonally, the fungus is able to thrive in the soil for multiple years. Such diseases are often spread through seeds, transplant, and sometimes the footwear of the farmer. The organism actually does not evoke serious losses until the temperature of the atmosphere and the soil get steadily high. The Fusarium wilt is also seen in seedlings with dropping of the oldest leaves followed by the demise of the plant.There are surprisingly more dangerous pests and fungus than the Fusarium Wilt which also attack tomatoes. However, some forms of seeds that are disease resistant have been observed in certain Lycopersicum species. Some of these seeds are highly resistant to ordinary diseases such as Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, Bacterial cankers, Radial cracking, root knot, and many others.

The primary goal of my project is to address these pest-related and plantation problems associated with the growth of tomatoes such as early ripening, and amongst others. With the knowledge of how several tomato species are able to resist various bacterial attacks, my team -which comprised a group of third year Biological Sciences undergraduates of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology- isolated the DNA of such tomatoes species from its seed and extracted the gene that accounts for the resistance to the diseases. The isolation methods are in two folds: the laboratory method and the home method.

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A COMPARISON OF DNA EXTRACTION METHODS USED IN RESEARCH LABS AS OPPOSED TO HOME
LABORATORY
Lysis: Grind in Liquid N2 and use detergent
Precipitation Part I: Phenol/chloroform extraction to get rid of proteins
Precipitation Part II: Addition of salts to interrupt hydrogen bonding between water and phosphates on the DNA
Precipitation Part III: Addition of ethanol to pull DNA out of solution
Wash and resuspend: DNA is washed in ethanol, dried, and re-suspended in H20 or TE buffer.

HOME
Lysis: Grind in mortar/pestle and use detergent
Precipitation Part I: NONE (chemical are too dangerous!)
Precipitation Part II: Addition of salts to interrupt hydrogen bonding between water and phosphates on the DNA
Precipitation Part III: Addition of ethanol to pull DNA out of solution
Wash and re-suspend: DNA is washed in ethanol, dried, and re-suspended in H20 or TE buffer

For curious people who would love try the isolation at home. Cautiously follow the steps below:

ISOLATION OF TOMATO SEED’S DNA IN THE KITCHEN

• Chop the tomato fruit into pieces using a kitchen knife.
• Remove tomato seeds from the cut-pieces of the tomato fruit.
• Put seeds into mortar
• Grind the seeds in the mortar using a pestle.
• Add detergent and distilled water and mix thoroughly
• Filter with a sieve and collect the filtrate in plastic container
• Add alcohol to the filtrate in the plastic container
• White substance collects to the top

NB:The white substance, floating on the filtrate, is the DNA of the tomato seed. Thus the genetic material found in the nucleus of the tomato seed cell

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The DNA materials of the disease resistant tomatoes were then processed and transferred into the genome of a tomato seed with less resistance to pests or bacterial attacks. The modified seeds were planted, and monitored. The result was an adult tomato plant that possessed the transgene in its cells. This genetically modified tomato was highly resistant to diseases, and consequently improved yield enormously. The trait was also identified in successive generations. Also to combat the early ripening issue, two genes which encodes the N-glycoprotein modifying enzymes,a-mannosidase and B-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase were "silenced". This technique resulted in the production of tommatoes which were not damaged after their storage for thirty days at room temperature, whereas the unmodified ones got spoilt.

HOW THESE MODIFIED TOMATOES CAN BOOST ECONOMIES
The genetically modified tomato seeds aare disease-resistant, and hence would improve quality and yield of tomato produce. Tomatoes are widely consumed ,therefore the exportations of such tomatoes to several countries and continents would generate lots of revenue. Factories can also be established for research purposes to further improve the qualities of the tomatoes. Tomatoes processing factories would also benefit immensely. Also, tomato and its products would become more affordable and bountiful in the market. This would,in turn, improve the health benefits for the consumers. Last but not least, in areas where harvested tomatoes get rotten before getting to the market due to poor road infrastructure and storage, my team hopes that these modified tomatoes may help minimize wastage.

Thank you for reading. Your comments are humbly welcome.

#STEEMITWAFRICA #STEEMITGHANA #STEEMITASHANTI #STEEMITKNUST #FARMS #STEEMCHURCH