Examining the toxins in the common tomato
Four corresponding genes SpGH3-4, SpGH39-1, SpGH3-1, and SpGH3-3 jointly work to hydrolyze tomatine to tomatidine in the tomato rhizosphere. Credit: KyotoU Global Comms/Jake Tobiyama Regardless of how one says “tomato,” they all contain tomatine, a toxin in the plant’s green fruit, leaves, and roots. Tomatoes produce the bitter-tasting compound—a major plant-specialized metabolite secreted from the