Question

“Flavr Savr” variety of tomato which remains fresh for a longer period than normal tomato variety
A. Has high amount of enzyme polygalacturonase
B. Has reduced amount of enzyme polygalacturonase
C. Is a pest resistant variety
D. Is rich in vitamin A and prevents night blindness

Answer 1

Hint: Tomatoes have short shelf life in which they remain firm and ripe.. Ethylene gas is the plant hormone which promotes ripening of tomatoes. It causes the tomato to turn red. It is naturally produced by the plant to promote ripening.

Complete Answer:
To solve this question, we must know about the Flavr Savr variety of tomato.
- Flavr Savr is a variety of tomato which is genetically engineered for human consumption. It was produced by the Californian Company Calgene.
- Tomatoes are picked unripe and green as they have very short shelf life and soften in the transit. The green and unripe tomatoes are treated with ethylene before delivering in the market. This changes the flavour of tomato.
- Calgene genetically engineered a variety in which the tomatoes ripen in the plant itself, does not get spoiled and the flavours too remain intact. They added an antisense gene which reduced the production of enzyme Beta polygalacturonase.
- Sungold is the pest resistant variety of tomato.
- Tomatoes are naturally rich in vitamin A which helps in preventing night blindness.

Thus the correct answer is (B). “Flavr Savr” variety of tomato has a reduced amount of enzyme polygalacturonase.

Note: Beta polygalacturonase degrades pectins in the cell wall which leads to softening of the fruit and making it more susceptible to fungal infection. The nutritional content is totally unchanged with all the flavours intact.