Spanish researchers have developed a genetically modified (GM) tomato that can be grown without fertilization, through a process called "parthenocarpy" where the female fruit's ovaries develop on their own.

The difference between a regular tomato (left) and the parthenocarpic tomato (right). Photo: CSIC

The development was led by the Superior Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) with results published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

"We generated genetically engineered tomato plants with masculine sterility blocking the early development of stamens, the male sex organs of angiosperms," said Concha Gómez-Mena from the CSIC's Institute of Molecular and Cellular Plant Biology, which is a joint initiative with the Universitat Politècnica de València.

"The ovaries of these plants develop without fertilization, which results in seedless or parthenocapic fruits."

A CSIC release highlighted the work could have applications in the horticultural sector as it allows for better crop control, while the seedless aspect could benefit the processing industry.

CSIC researcher José Pío Beltrán mentioned the tomato, developed from the "Moneymaker" variety, exhibited extra health benefits.

"After metabolic analysis of the parthenocarpic fruits obtained, we have observed an improvement in the nutritional properties of the tomato and an increase in caretonoides such as lycopene, which has antioxidant properties," he said.

He said the development of parthenocapic fruits until now was achieved through the use of growth regulators in the plant, but researchers have shown this can often lead to malformations and poor quality fruit.

"The genetic elimination of male tissues in the flowers had already been done in other species like geraniums, rape and tobacco, making sterile specimens. But, contrary to what happens to these species, the modified tomato plants develop parthenocarpic fruit very effectively."

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