Issue Information

The picture on the left shows a Nicotiana benthamiana leaf agroinoculated with bacterial and plant genes for the cytosolic production of lycopene, a red carotenoid that naturally accumulates in the chromoplasts of tomato fruit. The reddish color of the agroinoculated section (lower right area of the leaf) is due to the very high levels of lycopene achieved, comparable with those found in ripe tomatoes. Extraplastidial lycopene formed large crystals outside the chloroplasts (shown in the picture as green organelles), as illustrated in the right image. The work demonstrates the feasibility of producing carotenoids in extraplastidial locations, hence allowing the biofortifi cation of leaves without directly interfering with photosynthesis. Images refer to the article in this issue (Andersenet al., 1008–1021).