Optimizing a tomato crocin biofactory by fine-tuning plant architecture.

Area of Science:

• Plant biotechnology
• Metabolic engineering
• Synthetic biology

Background:

• Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a potential platform for producing high-value metabolites.
• Plant biofactories require chassis optimization for efficient metabolite accumulation.
• Previous work established the Tomaffron line for saffron apocarotenoid production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the tomato chassis for enhanced crocin production using genome editing.
• To investigate the impact of plant architecture modification on crocin yield and fruit quality.

Main Methods:

• CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to target SELF-PRUNING (SP) and SP5G genes in the Tomaffron tomato line.
• The resulting sp sp5g double mutants were analyzed for growth habit, fruit yield, and crocin content.

Main Results:

• The sp sp5g double mutants displayed a compact growth habit and increased fruit yield.
• Total crocin content and fruit firmness were significantly higher in the double mutants.
• Crocin yield per square meter increased nearly fourfold compared to non-mutant controls.

Conclusions:

• Genome editing of plant architecture is an effective strategy for improving metabolite production in tomato biofactories.
• This approach offers a scalable and sustainable method for producing valuable compounds like crocin.
• Modified tomato plants show potential for competing with traditional sources like Crocus sativus in terms of yield and cultivation efficiency.