My Bio-physics Project Work On Tomatoes (KNUST,Biological Sciences)

INTRODUCTION
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important vegetable in the world. It originated in Western South America, and domestication is thought to have occurred in Central America. Although the center of diversity of wild tomatoes is in Peru (Rick 1991b), genetic analysis of primitive cultivars has shown that the center of diversity of cultivated tomatoes is in Mexico. Due to Tomatoes’ short duration and high yield, they are economically attractive and this has led to the increase of its area of production. Tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family and is closely related to many commercially essential plants such as potato, eggplant, peppers, tobacco, and petunias. Tomatoes contribute to a healthy, well-balanced diet, and are also rich in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, sugars and dietary fibers. It also contains vitamin B and C, iron, and phosphorus. Tomato fruits are consumed fresh in salads or cooked in sauces, soup and meat or fish dishes. They can be processed into purées, juices and ketchup. Canned and dried tomatoes are processed products that are economically important. Due to their importance as food, tomato has been bred to improve productivity, fruit quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Tomatoes can also be used for research purposes. Currently, 13 wild tomato species are known (Peralta et al. 2005; Spooner et al. 2005), and all the known species are diploid (2n = 24), can be crossed with a cultivated tomato, and serve as a breeding source for desirable features such as fruit quality, resistance to pathogens and many others. Tomatoes also have several colour variations: Yellow tomatoes have higher vitamin A content than red tomatoes, while red tomatoes contain lycopene, an anti-oxidant that may contribute to protection against carcinogenic substances.
Tomatoes are usually grown in both greenhouses and on farms. For them to be grown, Tomato seeds as well as the plant require a moderate environment; Tomatoes require lots of bright light, warm days, a soil pH between 6-6.8, and cool nights for optimum yields. High temperatures and low humidity cause excessive flower drop and reduce yields drastically. Soils should be well drained and fertile.
On a global scale, the annual production of fresh tomatoes accounts for approximately 159 million tonnes. However, more than a quarter of those 159 million tonnes are grown for the processing industry, which makes tomatoes the world’s leading vegetable for processing. Fresh tomato production is very significant agricultural activity in Ghana especially in the Upper East Region where conditions are suitable for its all – year – round cultivation. Among the vegetables, tomato is one of the most important vegetables in terms of acreage, production, yield, commercial use and consumption. It is cultivated all over the country due to its adaptability to a wide range of soil and climate (Ahmed, 1976).Tomato production in Ghana is highly seasonal, reflecting differences in access to water and rainfall patterns, as illustrated by the variation in harvest periods.

Within the calendar year, different regions of the country produce tomato at different times of the year (Figure 2). From late December through April/May, Ghana’s Upper East region and Burkina Faso supply almost all the fresh tomato in the country. From June onwards the harvest picks up in the rained areas, with a longer season in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions (reflecting bi-modal rainfall patterns) and shorter seasons in Greater Accra. Irrigated tomato from Greater Accra dominates the market later in 2008.

DIAGRAMS OF TOMATO AND TOMATO SEED

CELL STRUCTURE OF TOMATO SEED AND ITS DNA LOCATION
The cells found tomato seed like that of a typical plant possess a rigid cell wall that is found outside the cell membrane and surrounds the cell. The cell wall contain cellulose, protein, and other polysaccharides and helps provide support and protection for the internal organelles of the cell. The tomato’s cell contains a central vacuole which is surrounded by a membrane called Tonoplast. The vacuole aids in the maintenance of turgor pressure against cell wall and also aids in storage. Several plants plastids can also be located in the cell of a tomato. Chloroplasts aid in photosynthesis, Chromoplasts make and store pigments that provide the tomato with its colour, and Leucoplasts aid in the bulk storage of starch, lipid, or protein. Like any typical plant cell, the cell of tomatoes contain mitochondrion which are structures that function in energy production, Ribosomes, Golgi bodies, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Cytoplasm, and the nucleus. Nucleus which is often considered as the “control center” of the cell controls the activity of the cell by regulating protein synthesis within the cell. Each nucleus is surrounded by a membrane called nuclear envelope. The nucleolus which is located within the nucleus serves as a site for the transfer of RNA, ribosomal RNA, and ribosomal subunits.

Adapted from: CK-12 Foundation Website
Within the nuclear membrane are the genetic material called DNA in the form of genes. The DNA is a nucleic acid that has genetic information encoded in it, and carries the genetic information in the cell from parents to offspring. The DNA is a long chain that is twisted into a double helix. It consists of two sugar-phosphate backbones with bases attached to each. The bases form hydrogen bonds with each other across the center of the helix. There are four bases found in DNA-adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine, often abbreviated as (A), (T), (C), and (G). Various combinations of bases code for different amino acids found in proteins. Sections of the genome that contain encoded instructions for making a particular protein are called a gene. The DNA or the hereditary material of a tomato seed is located in its nucleus.

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass Asteridae
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae (Potato family)
Genus Solanum L. (nightshade)
Species Solanum lycopersicum L. ( garden tomato)
Source: United States Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Tomato seeds contain gel which help prevent the blood from becoming sticky and clotting and so is being promoted as natural alternative to aspirin.
The adverse effects of smoking can be reduced by the in-take of tomato seeds. Smoking leads to blood clots and sticky blood cells which can be cured by regularly consuming tomato seeds
Tomato seed intake aids in the maintenance of the cholesterol level in the body through the regulation of the blood pressure and maintenance of smooth blood circulation.
Tomato seeds are also rich sources of nutrients and minerals such as vitamin A, B,C and K, as well as Calcium and Anti-oxidant. These aid in the reduction of inflammation in the blood stream. Also the body requires these nutrients to perform its daily activities.
Lycopene, an anti-oxidant that contributes to the protection against carcinogenic substances, is found in Tomatoes and helps prevent various diseases such as heart diseases, cancer of the prostate, lungs and many more. Lycopene is also used for treating Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) infection, which is a major cause of uterine cancer..

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PROPOSAL
A PROPOSAL TO THE MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA ON A RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON THE DNA ISOLATION OF TOMATO SEEDS AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT

MISSION STATEMENT
Our goal is to help increase the production of tomatoes in terms of its quality and yield in Ghana by proposing notions on how to solve problems associated with the growth and production of the tomatoes in various fields in the country.

STATEMENT OF NEED
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important vegetable in the world. It originated in Western South America, and domestication is thought to have occurred in Central America. Due to Tomatoes’ short duration and high yield, they are economically attractive and this has led to the increase of its area of production worldwide. Tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family and is closely related to many commercially essential plants such as potato, eggplant, peppers, tobacco, and petunias. Tomatoes contribute to a healthy, well-balanced diet, and are also rich in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, sugars and dietary fibers. It also contains vitamin B and C, iron, and phosphorus. Tomato fruits are consumed fresh in salads or cooked in sauces, soup and meat or fish dishes. They can be processed into purées, juices and ketchup. Canned and dried tomatoes are processed products that are economically important. Due to their importance as food, tomato has been bred to improve productivity, fruit quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Tomatoes can also be used for research purposes. However, the plantation of tomatoes in various plantation are gradually declining, and this is as a result of the tomato’s susceptibility to a large number of pest and diseases such as Aphids, Flea, Beetles, Spider mite, and many others. Fusarium Wilt, for instance, is one of the most damaging and prevalent, soil-borne, tomato diseases. The fungus over-winters and survives for many years in the soil. Disease is spread by seeds, transplant, and sometimes even footwear. The organism generally does not cause serious loss problems unless the soil and air temperature are steadily high. Fusarium wilt is noticed in seedlings with dropping of the oldest leaves usually followed by the plant’s death. However, various forms of disease resistant seeds have been observed in the Lycopersicum species. Some of them are highly resistant to common diseases such as Bacterial cankers, Radial cracking, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, root knot, and many others.

PROJECT NARRATIVE
The primary aim of our project is to address the problems associated with the growth of tomatoes in various plantations such as early ripening, less resistance to pest or environmental attacks, and many more. With the knowledge of how multiples tomato species are resistant to various bacterial attack, our team -which comprises a group of third year Biological Sciences undergraduates- isolated the DNA of such tomatoes species from its seed and extracted the gene that accounts for the resistance to the diseases. The gene then went through modification process and were then transferred into the genome of a tomato species with less resistance to pests or bacterial attack. This technique resulted in an adult tomato plant that possessed the transgene in its cells. The genetically modified Tomato became highly resistant to diseases, and this in turn improved its yield drastically. The presence of the trait in its successive generations confirmed the DNA of the genetically modified organism. Also to combat the issue of early ripening, two genes encoding the N-glycoprotein modifying enzymes,a-mannosidase and B-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase were silenced. The fruits produced were not visibly damaged after storage at room temperature for more than thirty days, whereas unmodified tomatoes got rotten.

EVALUATION
PROSPECTS OF OUR PROJECT ON THE ONE DISTRICT ONE FACTORY INITIATIVE AS WELL AS THE ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY
The prospects of our project on the One District One Factory initiative is economically massive due to the provision ideas to abate or remove problems concerned with the growth of tomatoes nationwide. First, by setting up a scientific edifice that is into genetic engineering of tomato seed would provide jobs as various scientist, engineers, accounts, and many other personels would be needed to keep the factory functioning. The genetically modified tomato seeds that would be disease resistant would improve quality and yield of tomatoes. Since, tomatoes are consumed worldwide, exportation of such tomatoes to various countries would help generate lots of revenue for the country. The established factory can also be used for further research purposes to improve the quality of tomatoes produced in the country. Another important factor is that when these genetically modified tomato seeds help to produce better tomatoes of higher quality and yield, the quality of the products of the tomatoes processing factories would also increase immensely. Tomato products would become cheaper and more plentiful as well. This would then improve the health benefits for the consumers. Also in Ghana where most harvested tomatoes are wasted before they reach the market due to poor road infrastructure and storage, our team hopes that the genetic engineering of the tomato may reduce wastage.

From 1961 to 2014, production of tomatoes in Ghana has always been under 400000 Tons.
But with these genetically modified seeds, it is expected that a minimum of 800000 Tons of tomatoes would be produced annually. The impact of this proposal on training in tertiary institutions in Ghana cannot be ignored since the students would be able gain the requisite knowledge and skills regarding the production and genetic engineering of healthier tomato fruits and the DNA tomato seeds respectively. Such genetic engineering factories could also employ students and help them earn a living.

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REFERENCES
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Kimura, S. and Sinha, N. 2008d. Grafting tomato plants. Cold Spring Harb. Protoc. (this issue). doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot5083
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