Title: SME INNOVA 2025 – TOMATO ELICITOR BOTANICAL EXTRACTS
INTERJOSPAL, S.L. has been a beneficiary of the European Regional Development Fund, whose objective is to promote technological development, innovation, and quality research. Thanks to this, it has launched an Action Plan with the aim of improving business competitiveness supported by SME innovation during 2025. To this end, it has received support from the SME Innova Program of the Almeria Chamber of Commerce.
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Main objective:
Evaluation of the potential of two botanical extracts as elicitors of the defensive response in tomato plants, using agronomic and molecular strategies (RNAseq).
Experimental design:
The trial was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions in Tenerife, Spain.
- Number of experimental conditions: 5 (See Table 1)
- Design:
Table 1. Experimental Design
Evaluations and Analysis:
- Agronomic evaluations of vigor, plant height, and number of leaves and flowers.
- Statistical analysis of the agronomic parameters evaluated, comparing each treatment with the control.
- Molecular evaluations, using RNA-seq analysis of the most relevant experimental conditions.
Final results:
PHASE 1 – Agronomic evaluations:
Throughout the evaluations, experimental conditions 4 and 5 showed a slight but consistent negative impact on several agronomic parameters, especially during the final stages of the trial. These moderate reductions in vigor or number of leaves, as well as a lighter green color observed, are consistent with the hypothesis that the botanical extract acts as an elicitor, triggering a response in the plant that temporarily directs its resources toward defense, reducing growth and photosynthesis.
Illustration 1. Agronomic Evaluations.
- PHASE 2 – RNA-seq molecular analysis:
The results of the molecular analysis show that the application of the enriched botanical extract induces a defensive response in tomato plants, activating protective mechanisms and temporarily reducing processes linked to growth and photosynthesis. These molecular changes are consistent with agronomic observations, which show reduced vegetative development.
Illustration 2. Some of the identified genes and their functionality.
The extract’s potential as a plant elicitor has been confirmed. Additional studies will be conducted to optimize its application and balance defense and yield under real growing conditions.
Participating members:
- INTERJOSPAL S.L.
- BIOTECH TRICOPHARMING
- SEQUENTIA
Duration:2025/2026
Aid line: Product innovation – Technical/economic feasibility studies for new products.
Funding body: The project is subsidized by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with the support of the SME Innova Program of the Almeria Chamber of Commerce.
