The modern food system is largely dependent on a limited genetic pool of crops, raising significant concerns about agricultural sustainability and food security. Only a small fraction of the world's biodiversity is cultivated, making crops vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes.
This lack of genetic diversity underscores the need to diversify our food sources to safeguard against future challenges. This research responds to those concerns by exploring how advanced biotechnologies can increase the genetic diversity and resilience of Solanaceae crops—key contributors to both global and local food systems.
A team of researchers from the University of Florida, in partnership with experts from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas—Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC-UPV) in Spain, has published a study in Horticulture Research.
The study focuses on applying deep knowledge of Solanaceae domestication, combined with virus-based biotechnologies, to enhance the performance and diversity of Solanaceae crops, which include essential global staples like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. The research emphasizes the potential of recombinant virus technologies (RVTs) for precise genetic modification in these crops, aiming to improve not only widely cultivated varieties but also underutilized species within the Solanaceae family.