Evogene and Zeraim Gedera Salt Tolerant Tomato Collaboration Advances to Second Phase
Evogene Ltd. and Zeraim Gedera Ltd, which was recently acquired by Syngenta S.A., announced that their joint program for the development of salt tolerant tomato varieties has successfully completed the first phase with experimental varieties currently undergoing field trials in target locations worldwide.
Under a recently signed follow-on agreement, the parties intend to further develop the experimental varieties towards commercialization and develop additional varieties for new target markets. The use of massive irrigation practices and water sources of high salinity levels in tomato growing areas have caused a reduction in tomato yield and in severe cases the abandoning of such areas. The tomato varieties developed through this collaboration are expected to allow growers to maintain high yields under severe growing conditions displaying high salt concentrations of water and soil.
Zeraim Gedera's breeding program is based on its tomato germplasm and utilizes Evogene's advanced selection tools. These selection tools include proprietary selection assays and molecular marker for salt tolerance, developed based on Evogene's computational gene discovery platform.
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