Researchers are applying CRISPR to rapidly domesticate a wild fruit, dramatically accelerating a process that has traditionally taken thousands of years. For much of human history, farming communities improved crops by saving seeds from plants with desirable traits—such as higher yields, improved flavor, and greater resilience—gradually shaping the fruits and vegetables consumed today through centuries of selective breeding.

Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) are testing a faster route to crop improvement by using CRISPR gene editing to modify a small tomato relative known as the goldenberry.

Figure 1. Goldenberries (Physalis peruviana) in the Nightshade Family

The research indicates that the fruit could be made easier to grow, opening the door to large-scale cultivation in the United States and beyond. More broadly, CRISPR-modified crops may allow scientists to rapidly develop plants with enhanced resistance to emerging diseases, insect pests, and drought conditions. Figure 1 shows Goldenberries (Physalis peruviana) in the Nightshade Family.

Blaine Fitzgerald, a greenhouse technician in CSHL’s Zachary Lippman lab, emphasized that CRISPR enables the development of new, more resilient food crops. He noted that in the face of climate change and a growing global population, such innovations could play a critical role in advancing agricultural production.

From Nature to the Farm: Developing Market-Ready Crops

The Lippman lab focuses on plants in the nightshade family, including widely cultivated crops like tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes, as well as lesser-known species such as goldenberries. Native to South America, goldenberries are increasingly popular for their nutritional benefits and distinctive sweet-tart flavor, and are now appearing in many local supermarkets.

“Goldenberry crops remain bushy and largely undomesticated,” said Miguel Santo Domingo Martinez, a postdoctoral researcher in the Lippman lab who led the study.

“These large, sprawling plants are difficult to manage and harvest in an agricultural setting,” explained Fitzgerald.

Gene Editing for Better Size, Taste, and Future Potential

The Lippman lab previously used CRISPR to make tomatoes and groundcherries more compact for urban farming. Building on this work, the team edited similar genes in goldenberries, producing plants that were 35% shorter—allowing denser planting and easier maintenance. To identify the tastiest fruits, researchers sampled hundreds across the fields, said Fitzgerald with a laugh. After several generations of selective breeding, the team developed two compact, flavorful goldenberry lines ready for production. Although the fruits were slightly smaller, future CRISPR edits will target additional desirable traits.

“We can aim to enhance fruit size or improve disease resistance,” said Santo Domingo. “Modern tools like CRISPR allow us to domesticate previously undomesticated crops [1].” The team now plans to pursue regulatory approval so growers can access seeds and begin cultivating the newly developed goldenberry varieties.

“We can aim to enhance fruit size or improve disease resistance,” said Santo Domingo. “Modern tools like CRISPR allow us to domesticate previously undomesticated crops.” The team now plans to pursue regulatory approval so growers can access seeds and begin cultivating the newly developed goldenberry varieties.

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/crispr-turns-a-little-known-fruit-into-a-big-farming-opportunity/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), CRISPR Transforms an Overlooked Fruit into a Major Farming Opportunity, AnaTechMaz, pp. 641