Japan research institute, university develop melons that ripen on demand

A national agricultural research institute and the University of Tsukuba have developed a muskmelon that can be ripened on demand, aiming to overcome the fruit's relatively short shelf life and boost exports.The team inactivated a gene required to produce ethylene, which acts as a plant hormone to promote fruit ripening, and succeeded in keeping the melon firm and green for up to two months.The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization and the university said they hope to register the variety with the government and commercialize it within three years.Muskmelons typically come int…READ FULL ARTICLE