Tool predicts plant reactions

A new computing tool could help scientists predict how plants will react to different environmental conditions in order to create better crops, such as tastier and longer-lasting tomatoes.

The tool will form part of the £1.7m Syngenta University Centre at Imperial College London, where researchers from Imperial and Syngenta will work together to improve agricultural products.

Scientists around the world have aspired to develop strains of crops such as drought-resistant wheat and pesticides that are more environmentally friendly. In order to do this, however, they need to predict how the genes inside plants will react when they are subjected to different chemicals or environmental conditions.

Prof Stephen Muggleton, director of the centre from the department of computing at Imperial College London, said: ‘We believe our computing tool will revolutionise agricultural research by making the process much faster than is currently possible using conventional techniques. We hope that our new technology will ultimately help farmers to produce hardier, longer-lasting and more nutritious crops.’