Maryam Sami Elias from Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening successfully defended her Ph.D. work with the title ((Employing gene silencing technology using RNA and treatment with pectin and organic calcium in the growth, yield and marketability of local tomatoes))
The thesis aimed to develop a new tomato variety with firm fruits and extended marketability by using gene silencing of the Pectatelyase enzyme using RNAi technology, in addition to the possibility of improving tomato growth, yield, fruit quality, and extending marketability by using pectin and calcium.
The researcher recommended the use of RNAi technology to develop new varieties of horticultural crops, as well as the use of gene suppression technology to eliminate undesirable traits in local commercial varieties. She also recommended the use of fruit waste, such as orange, apple, and pumpkin peels, to extract pectin and benefit from it in enhancing fruit firmness and reducing spoilage, thus enhancing sustainability.
