“Having full genome sequences for these species is like having a new treasure map. We can see where and when one genetic path diverges from another and then explore that place in the genetic information where we wouldn’t have thought to look. They allowed us to find the size-genes in a really unexpected place.” Katharine Jenike, a PhD student in Schatz’s lab at the time of the research, said.
The discovery could lead to a new era of agricultural innovation, the researchers said.
“This work shows the importance of studying many species together,” Schatz said. “We leveraged decades of work in tomato genetics to rapidly advance African eggplants, and along the way we found entirely new genes in African eggplants that reciprocally advance tomatoes. We call this ‘pan-genetics,’ and it opens endless opportunities to bring many new fruits, foods, and flavors to dinner plates around the world.”