University of Hyderabad researchers identify tomato gene that boosts phosphate efficiency

What the researchers discovered

University of Hyderabad scientists have mapped a molecular switch that lets tomato plants recycle phosphate more effectively. The team found that the gene PAP26b acts like a ferry, moving phosphate stored in older foliage to the young leaves and roots that need it for growth. When the gene was silenced, the seedlings behaved as if they were starving for phosphate, even though the soil supplied enough of the nutrient.

Who led the study

The work was headed by Professor Rahul Kumar of the Department of Plant Sciences, with Abhishek Roychowdhury and several co‑authors listed as contributors. Their findings were peer‑reviewed and appeared in the Journal of Experimental Botany on October 6, 2026.

How the gene works

Phosphate is an essential macronutrient, but it is often locked away in mature leaves once a plant has taken it up. PAP26b encodes an enzyme that breaks down phosphate compounds in older tissue and channels the liberated ions to younger parts where cell division is rapid. In experiments where the gene was knocked out, the plant’s signalling pathways lit up phosphate‑deficiency alarms, triggering a cascade of stress responses despite adequate external supply.

Implications for farming

If breeders can embed a more active version of PAP26b into commercial tomato lines, the crops could draw on their own internal stores rather than relying on repeated fertiliser applications. That would lower input costs for farmers and curb the runoff that fuels eutrophication in water bodies. The researchers suggest the mechanism could be transferred to other staple crops, potentially widening the impact beyond tomatoes.

What comes next

The team plans field trials to test whether the laboratory results hold up under variable soil conditions and climate stress. They also intend to explore the gene’s interaction with other nutrient‑transport pathways, hoping to assemble a suite of traits that together make crops more resilient to nutrient scarcity.

The discovery adds a new piece to the puzzle of how plants manage scarce resources, and it gives plant breeders a concrete target for developing varieties that are both high‑yielding and environmentally gentler.