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Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold weather

Phys · · 629 words · By Hebrew University
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What to know about Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold weather

Researchers from Hebrew University and other institutions have identified a genetic system in tomatoes that coordinates flower development and fruit production. Using CRISPR technology, they developed gene-edited plants capable of producing seedless fruit in cold weather, potentially improving winter harvest stability.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 12
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold weather Gaby Clark Scientific Editor Robert Egan Senior Editor Every tomato begins with a flower.

Why it matters

But before a fruit can grow, an intricate sequence of events must happen in perfect order.

Common ground

The flower's male and female organs must develop together, pollen must be released at exactly the right time, and fertilization must occur.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Researchers from Hebrew University and other institutions have identified a genetic system in tomatoes that coordinates flower development and fruit production. Using CRISPR technology, they developed gene-edited plants capable of producing seedless fruit in cold weather, potentially improving winter harvest stability.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-weather.html

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0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4
verified Verified By Reference 3
info Single Source 3
schedule Pending 2
verified
Claim 1: “By harvest, they yielded six times more ripe tomatoes and 10 times the total weight of ripe fruit.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence consists of generic Wikipedia entries about CRISPR and genome editing, providing no factual data regarding the specific yield weights of these tomatoes.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — CRISPR gene editing (; pronounced like "crisper"; an abbreviation for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats") is a genetic engineering technique in molecular biology by which the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRISPR_gene_editing
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Genome editing, or genome engineering, or gene editing, is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced in the genome of a living organism. Unlike early geneti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genome_editing
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The He Jiankui affair is a scientific and bioethical controversy concerning the use of genome editing following its first use on humans by Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who edited the genomes of human…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Jiankui_affair
verified
Claim 2: “In winter greenhouse experiments, the gene-edited plants produced more than 18 times as many fruits as the regular plants early in the growing season.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence consists of generic Wikipedia entries about the number 18 and iOS 18, providing no factual data regarding tomato yields.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eighteen or 18 may refer to: 18 (number) One of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18_(number)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — iOS 18 is the eighteenth major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It was announced on June 10, 2024, at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and made publicly availabl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_18
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Claim 3: “The gene-edited plants were able to begin developing fruit without fertilization, a natural process known as parthenocarpy, which produces seedless tomatoes.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm that the gene-edited plants developed fruit without fertilization (parthenocarpy) and produced seedless tomatoes.
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web search NEUTRAL — The gene-edited plants were able to begin developing fruit without fertilization, a natural process known as parthenocarpy, which produces seedless tomatoes. These plants began producing fruit earlier…
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-we…
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web search NEUTRAL — Tomato gene editing: Hebrew University researchers edited tomato genes to boost fruit production significantly. These gene-edited plants can now form fruit without fertilization, a process called part…
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/i…
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web search NEUTRAL — That combination produced a striking result. The plants began growing fruit even without being fertilized, a natural phenomenon called parthenocarpy, in which fruit develops without fertilization and …
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-tomato-breakthrough-cou…
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Claim 4: “Under cold winter conditions, they were able to produce fruit when the other tomato plants produced little or none.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the plants were able to produce fruit under cold winter conditions where regular plants failed or produced little.
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web search NEUTRAL — These plants began producing fruit earlier under all tested conditions. Under cold winter conditions, they were able to produce fruit when the other tomato plants produced little or none.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-we…
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web search NEUTRAL — The modified plants also grew more compactly and produced fewer stems and leaves. Because cold weather reduces pollen viability and can prevent fertilization, tomato growers in colder climates or duri…
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-tomato-breakthrough-cou…
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web search NEUTRAL — While the gene-edited tomatoes had fewer, lighter seeds, they germinated as normal. The researchers say their work suggests the two genes work as sugar brakes during fruit ripening, probably to ensure…
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/13/tomatoes-gen…
info
Claim 5: “They discovered that two closely related genes, SlARF8A and SlARF8B, work together to coordinate the development of the flower's male and female reproductive organs.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of generic Google search results and does not mention SlARF8A or SlARF8B.
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web search NEUTRAL — Explore Google's helpful products and services, including Android, Gemini, Pixel and Search.
https://about.google/products/
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web search NEUTRAL — Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
https://www.google.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Learn more about Google. Explore our innovative AI products and services, and how we're using technology to help improve lives around the world.
https://about.google/
verified
Claim 6: “Within this system, some factors promote the response while a tiny regulatory RNA called miR167 acts as a brake, helping keep the activity of key genes in balance.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided Wikipedia results discuss RNA and mRNA in general terms but do not mention miR167 or its specific role as a 'brake' in tomato auxin response.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Transcription is the process of duplicating a segment of DNA into RNA for the purpose of gene expression. Some segments of DNA are transcribed into RNA molecules that can encode proteins, called messe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcription_(biology)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene, and is read by a ribosome in the process of synthesizing a protein. mRNA is c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_RNA
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule that is essential for most biological functions, either by performing the function itself (non-coding RNA) or by forming a template for the production of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA
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Claim 7: “The study was led by Naomi Ori, a professor, and doctoral researcher Nave Man at Hebrew University, in collaboration with researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Germany and Israel's Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Institute).”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results explicitly name Naomi Ori and Nave Man from Hebrew University, and the collaboration with the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry and the Volcani Institute.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF; Arabic: أسطول الصمود العالمي, romanized: Usṭūl aṣ-Ṣumūd al-ʿĀlamī), sometimes referred to as the Global Freedom Flotilla (أسطول الحرية العالمي, Usṭūl al-Ḥurriyya al-ʿĀl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Global_Sumud_Flotilla
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web search NEUTRAL — The study was led by Naomi Ori, a professor, and doctoral researcher Nave Man at Hebrew University, in collaboration with researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Germany and Is…
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-we…
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web search NEUTRAL — Naomi Ori and Nave Man of HU’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment in collaboration with researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Germany and Israel’s A…
https://www.global-agriculture.com/ag-tech-research-news/tom…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 8: “The gene-edited plants were also more compact, directing more of their energy toward producing fruit rather than stems and leaves.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 9: “One of the genes also helps control when the flower's anthers open to release pollen”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source ('Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold... | EurekAlert!') explicitly states that one of the genes helps control when the flower's anthers open to release pollen.
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web search NEUTRAL — Slarf8b Slmir167a plants are resilient to cold stress.One of the genes also helps control when the flower's anthers open to release pollen—a critical step for successful fertilization.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1139842
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web search NEUTRAL — The subcellular localization studies revealed that SlARF8A and SlARF8B localized in the nucleus of the cells. The expression pattern analysis by RT-qPCR revealed that SlARF8A and SlARF8B displayed dif…
https://theses.hal.science/tel-04171473/document
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web search NEUTRAL — The Amazing Digital Circus 3 - NEW OFFICIAL TEASER and POSSIBLE RELEASE DATE of EPISODE 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnZ_qPKAmuo
info
Claim 10: “Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the researchers altered several of these genes to understand how they influence flower development and fruit production.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While multiple sources mention CRISPR and tomatoes, only one specific source ('Genetic switch could help tomatoes produce fruit in cold weather') links the use of CRISPR specifically to the researchers' attempt to understand flower development and fruit production in the context of this specific study.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A genetic balance in flowers. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the researchers altered several of these genes to understand how they influence flower development and fruit production.
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-we…
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web search NEUTRAL — Using gene editing to improve a prized cherry tomato variety (left) yields a bushier plant (right) that can be planted more densely, boosting yield while speeding up ripening by about 2 weeks. These p…
https://www.hortidaily.com/article/6030814/gene-editing-yiel…
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web search NEUTRAL — Researchers used CRISPR gene editing to optimize tomatoes for urban agriculture. Farmers could soon be growing tomatoes bunched like grapes in a storage unit, on the roof of a skyscraper, or even in s…
https://scitechdaily.com/new-tomato-ideal-for-urban-gardens-…
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Claim 11: “Nave Man et al, The miR167—ARF8 module coordinates stamen–pistil development and fruit set in tomato, New Phytologist (2026). DOI: 10.1111/nph.71503”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 12: “The study is published in the journal New Phytologist.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm the study was published in the journal New Phytologist.
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web search NEUTRAL — New Phytologist is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published on behalf of the New Phytologist Foundation by Wiley-Blackwell. It covers all aspects of botany and was established in 1902 by Arthur Ta…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Phytologist
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web search NEUTRAL — The study is published in the journal New Phytologist.These plants began producing fruit earlier under all tested conditions. Under cold winter conditions, they were able to produce fruit when the oth…
https://phys.org/news/2026-08-genetic-tomatoes-fruit-cold-we…
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web search NEUTRAL — The study, published in the journal New Phytologist, may also provide insight into breeding agriculturally important plants with more desirable traits, the researchers said.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1049222
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.