Tomatoes gene-edited to produce vitamin D could be a simple innovation to address a global health problem. Researchers at the United Kingdom’s John Innes Centre used gene-editing technology to turn off a specific molecule in the plant’s genome. That increased provitamin D3 in both tomato fruit and leaves. Provitamin D3 was then converted to vitamin D3 through exposure to UVB, an ultraviolet-ray light.
Gene-editing produces vitamin D
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Tomatoes gene-edited to produce vitamin D could be a simple innovation to address vitamin-D deficiencies in people.
Jie Li, a postdoctoral scientist in plant science at the John Innes Centre, says provitamin D-enriched tomatoes offer a plant-based source of vitamin D.
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