An international group of scientists, including French national agricultural research body INRA, have sequenced the genomes of the domesticated tomato and its wild relative, Solanum pimpinellifolium.

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Working with partners in the Tomato Genome Consortium, scientists from institutes around the world contributed to the achievement, which they have claimed may lower costs and speed up efforts to improve tomato production worldwide. The scientists argue that the better understanding gained will contribute to research into breeding healthier tomatoes, which can fight pests, pathogens, droughts and diseases that plague growers.

The coalition’s research is published in June’s Nature journal. Together, the sequences provide the most detailed look yet at the functional portions of the tomato genome, revealing the order, orientation, types and relative positions of its 35,000 genes.

Now that the tomato has been sequenced, researchers will be able to uncover the relationships between tomato genes and traits and broaden their understanding of how genetics and environmental factors interact to determine a field crop’s health and viability.

The plant is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, aubergines and peppers. Researchers today said their breakthrough is likely to have implications for the other plants in the family, which is the world’s most significant vegetable plant family, as many plants used as stable food crops and medicines belong to the group.

Over 300 scientists worked as part of the TGC, following its formation in Washington, DC in 2003. The group includes scientists from France, Argentina, Belgium, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, India, Japan, China and the United Kingdom.

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