Genetically engineered vegetables

Abstract

The present disclosure relates at least in part to genetic engineering of vegetable (e.g., tomato) plants to, for example, produce heme, a molecule contributing to a meat-like flavor, and to the incorporation of male sterility in these plants to facilitate the production of F1 hybrid seeds. Described herein, in some embodiments, are methods for constructing and introducing into such plants genetic constructs containing both a heme gene and a male sterility gene, the resulting plants, and the use of these plants in hybrid seed production. The present disclosure also provides at least in part methods for enhancing lycopene content in plants, such as tomato plants, either through genetic modification or selective breeding. While introducing key genes like Psy is effective, adding multiple genes or knocking out competing pathways can lead to more substantial increases in lycopene levels. Enhanced lycopene content can provide added health benefits, including potential cancer protection, making these plants, such as tomatoes, particularly valuable in the context of functional foods. The plants may be of varieties with high lycopene content combined with genetic modifications as provided herein. The present disclosure offers a comprehensive solution for producing plants (e.g., tomatoes) with increased nutritional value.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.