NGT-1 solanaceae plants are blooming in the Italian spring 

A groundbreaking season for NGT-1 crops in Italy

Concetta Licciardello (CREA)

Italy has initiated a coordinated national initiative on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), aimed at positioning field validation at the core of technological innovation.

NGTs, referred in Italy as “Tecnologie di Evoluzione Assistita (TEA)”, include advanced biotechnological tools such as genome editing and cisgenesis. They aim to improve specific traits while preserving the plant’s original genetic background, ensuring products appreciated by consumers and strongly linked to local traditions. CREA (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics), the largest Italian public research institution in agriculture, coordinates the “TEA4IT” project, funded with 9 million euros by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture Food Sovereignty and Forests, under the scientific leadership of Dr. Concetta Licciardello.

Logo of the “TEAIT” project and picture of the coordinator Dr. Concetta Licciardello (CREA)

Adopting a comprehensive, forward-looking approach, the project seeks to develop high‑quality NGT plants that are more resistant to diseases, better adapted to climate change, and improved in qualitative traits. To achieve these goals, CREA has brought together universities and public and private research institutions to work on key Made in Italy crops such as vegetables, cereals, and fruit trees. The project covers the entire pipeline, from developing NGT plants to their transfer from the laboratory to the field, a crucial step for assessing the effects of induced mutations. CREA applies a rigorous validation process ensuring that the resulting plants fall under the NGT‑1 category and are therefore comparable to varieties obtained through conventional breeding or natural evolutionary processes. NGT-1 plants will undergo final approval for open-field release by the competent national authority. A large portion of the funding is allocated to basic and fundamental research activities that, through the in-depth study of recalcitrance, the identification of genes and molecular mechanisms underlying the control of complex traits, the use of the most innovative approaches for the production of DNA-free plants and new Cas, and an in-depth study on the intellectual property protection, lay the foundations for the “TEA-plants” of the near future. In particular, within “TEA4IT”, the “TEA4IT-SOL” sub‑project focuses on valorizing existing results in eggplant and tomato, two emblematic Italian horticultural species. The aim is to make these innovations ready for application and technology transfer to the production sector.

Parthenocarpy and reduced flesh browning in eggplant 

Laura Toppino – Tea Sala – Fabio D’Orso – Giuseppe Leonardo Rotino (CREA)

In eggplant, parthenocarpy and reduced flesh browning are highly desirable traits for both consumers and processing companies, as they improve fruit quality, workability, and shelf life. Moreover, the ability to set fruit without fertilization helps maintain productivity even under suboptimal pollination conditions, with benefits for both costs and environmental impact. These traits are therefore major targets in eggplant breeding. CREA researchers have developed NGT‑1 eggplant lines of the long-black type using CRISPR technology to induce total or partial seedlessness by mutating the two orthologous genes AUCSIA1 and AUCSIA2, involved in the regulation of auxin homeostasis in the ovary. Additional NGT‑1 lines with reduced browning were obtained by editing the HQT gene, involved in the final steps of chlorogenic acid biosynthesis. Loss of function of AUCSIAgenes affects the timing of auxin release in the ovary, while HQT editing prevents chlorogenic acid synthesis and alters the distribution of hydroxycinnamic acid precursors. Within “TEA4IT‑SOL”, CREA plans open‑field trials to evaluate not only seedlessness and reduced browning but also plant growth, yield, and overall performance under real cultivation conditions.

Vitamin D-enriched tomato 

Fabio D’Orso (CREA)

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread public health issue with negative consequences for bone health and immune function. Adequate intake typically relies on fortified foods or supplements, as plants naturally contain very little vitamin D. Through CRISPR‑based metabolic engineering, researchers at the John Innes Centre (Norwich, UK), together with partners including CREA, have developed tomato lines that accumulate 7‑dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D₃). When exposed to UV‑B radiation, this molecule is converted into vitamin D₃, enabling the tomatoes to become a significant plant‑based source of this essential nutrient. Within “TEA4IT‑SOL”, CREA aims to carry out open‑field trials to evaluate plant performance and the accumulation of vitamin D₃ under natural sunlight enriched in UV‑B radiation.

UV-B mediated conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol into vitamin D₃ in NGT-1 tomato.

Resistance to downy mildew in tomato 

Andrea Moglia (University of Turin)

Some plant genes, known as susceptibility genes, can inadvertently facilitate pathogen infection. One such gene, Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6_1), encodes an enzyme involved in salicylic acid catabolism. Salicylic acid is a key hormone in activating plant defense responses. When DMR6_1 activity is reduced, salicylic acid levels remain higher, enhancing the plant’s natural defenses. Increased salicylic acid levels have also been linked to improved tolerance to major abiotic stresses such as salinity, heavy metal exposure, osmotic stress, drought, and heat. Researchers at the University of Turin generated NGT‑1 tomato lines with CRISPR‑induced mutations in DMR6_1. Under controlled conditions, the edited lines showed reduced susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans (downy mildew) and increased drought tolerance. Field trials conducted in 2025 confirmed their strong performance: following P. infestans infection, disease severity was reduced by approximately 80% compared to control plants. As part of “TEA4IT‑SOL”, further open‑field trials will also evaluate yield, agronomic performance and drought stress tolerance.

Effects of P. infestans infection on NGT-1 DMR6_1-edited line and control tomato line

NGT-1 tomato resistant to parasitic plants 

Alessandro Nicolia (CREA)

Parasitic plants of the genera Orobanche and Phelipanche are rapidly spreading in Italy and cause severe yield losses in several crops, including tomato. Within “TEA4IT‑SOL”, different NGT‑1 tomato lines edited via CRISPR in genes involved in strigolactone biosynthesis, specifically D27 and CCD7, are being tested. These genes influence the amount of strigolactones released into root exudates, which play a key role in stimulating the germination of parasitic plants. Strigolactones also regulate important plant traits such as branching and height; therefore, to limit undesired effects on plant architecture, the edited lines have also been evaluated as rootstocks for a commercial hybrid tomato. Results from the first experimental year (2025) were very promising, identifying at least one edited genotype with a phenotype comparable to the control but showing reduced Orobanche infestation. Using edited rootstocks helped maintain yields similar to the control while significantly reducing parasite infection. Within “TEA4IT‑SOL”, new open‑field trials will further assess yield and plant performance.

Parasitic plants of the species Phelipanche ramosa emerging from an infested control plant

References

J. Li, A. Scarano, N.M. Gonzalez, et al. Biofortified tomatoes provide a new route to vitamin D sufficiency. Nat. Plants 8, 611–616 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01154-6

A. Nicolia, A. Cuccurullo, K. Tamada, K. Yoneyama, J.L. Rambla, A. Granell, F. Camerlengo, G. Festa, G. Francese, F. Contaldi, A. D’Alessandro, M.M. Rigano, L. Principio, N. D’Agostino, T. Cardi Editing strigolactone biosynthesis genes in tomato reveals novel phenotypic effects and highlights D27 as a key target for parasitic weed resistance bioRxiv 2025.02.01.636032; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.01.636032

A. Maioli, F. De Marchi, D. Valentino, S. Gianoglio, D.L. Patono, F. Miloro, Y. Bai, C. Comino, S. Lanteri, C. Lovisolo, et al. Knock-out of SlDMR6-1 in tomato promotes a drought-avoidance strategy and increasestolerance to Late Blight. Plant Stress. 2024, 13, 100541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2024.100541

L. Toppino, S. Gattolin, M. R. Tassone, M. T. Azzimonti, G. L. Rotino Generation of parthenocarpic Solanum melongena plants using CRISPR-Cas9 – mediated editing . Acta horticolturae. ISHS International Symposium on Biotechnological Tools in Horticulture (Rimini, 5-9 May).

L. Toppino, F. D’Orso, M.T. Azzimonti, M.R. Tassone, F. Natella,  F. Barbara, G. Morelli, C. Martin, M. Fibiani, G.L. Rotino CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knocking Out of the Eggplant HQT Gene To Avoid Fruit Flesh Browning After Cutting. Proceedings of the Solanaceae and Rubiaceae Genetics and Genomics International Conference, Turin 22-25 September 2025 

G.L. Rotino, S. Gattolin, T. Pandolfini, B. Molesini, F. Pennisi, M.R. Tassone, A. Biswas, G. Mangino, L. Toppino CRISPR-Cas9 – mediated editing of AUCSIA2 gene induces parthenocarpic fruit development in eggplant. Proceedings of the 18th EUCARPIA International Meeting on Genetics and Breeding of Capsicum and Eggplant. 18-21 Sept 2023 Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

Source: CREA