A team of scientists has unlocked the genetic secrets of the pineapple in a bid to understand how this exceptional fruit works — and it could lead to some important discoveries.
More specifically, the research team was looking for insight into how the plant is able to deal with droughts using a special form of photosynthesis, according to a Reuters report.
With this information, it’s possible to genetically modify the pineapple to have improved resistance to disease, insects, and droughts, all while having a longer shelf life, meaning in the future we could depend on the fruit more than ever before thanks to global warming.
Ever since the pineapple was first domesticated thousands of years ago in Brazil, it has exploded in use worldwide, and is now made in 80 countries and generates $8 billion in sales annually, placing it only behind the banana for tropical fruits.
It’s a very important fruit, and it could become even more important as the effects of global warming sets in. The pineapple has a special form of photosynthesis so that it uses up to 80 percent less water than most plants, allowing it to live in arid conditions that other crops couldn’t survive in.
This photosynthesis process is called crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), and understanding this could give scientists a leg up.
The findings were published in Nature Genetics.