Plants with high concentration of phytoene, phytofluene, zeta-carotene

Highlights

• Novel method for increasing concentration of carotenoids in specific plant organs.
• Carotenoids are important components in determining quality parameters of fruits and vegetables. They are responsible for the appealing yellow, orange and red colors of many foods and thus contribute to market value of fruits and vegetables.
• Carotenoids also have various industrial applications in food and feed, pharmaceutics and cosmetics.
• Growing interest worldwide in increasing concentration of carotenoids as functional nutrients in crop plants.
• Phytoene and phytofluene used as sunscreen.
• Up to 20-fold increase in concentration of phytoene and phytofluene in tomatoes demonstrated

Our Innovation

Method for producing crop plants that have high levels of the carotenoids phytoene, phytofluene and zeta-carotene in specific organs such as fruits, flowers or sink organs such as roots, tubers and seeds.

Key Features

• Low-cost source of valuable commercial compounds
• Increased concentration for natural compounds for industrial production

Development Milestones

• Seeking cooperation for commercialization

The Opportunity

• Applications in food and feed additives, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, and chemical synthesis

Published US-2013-0036518-A1