When Artificial Intelligence Meets the Tomato
Ben-Gurion University researchers use AI-powered algorithms to identify biological processes that could strengthen crop resilience to climate change
AI-Powered Research Aims to Protect Crops from Climate Change
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, working with colleagues from the University of California, have developed an artificial intelligence-based approach that can identify how plant cells respond to climate change and environmental stress. This method could ultimately help improve the resilience of agricultural crops, including tomatoes and other vegetables, to extreme environmental conditions.
Mapping the Biological Pathways Behind Plant Survival
The study, published in Communications Biology, describes a method for identifying metabolic pathways, sequences of chemical reactions within cells that enable growth, development, and reproduction. According to the researchers, identifying these pathways provides insight into how plants cope with heat, drought, and disease, supporting efforts to develop more resilient crop varieties.
From Databases to Discovery
To conduct the study, the scientists collected data from public databases containing known metabolic pathways and constructed interaction networks of molecular components in tomatoes. Using advanced computational analyses, they identified four previously undocumented metabolic pathways.
A Research Journey Across Disciplines and Continents
Dr. David Toubiana coordinated and led the research over an extended period while combining his doctoral studies with extensive scientific work.
Dr. Toubiana completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Aaron Fait and conducted his first postdoctoral fellowship at Deutsche Telekom Laboratories at BGU under the guidance of Prof. Rami Puzis and Prof. Yuval Elovici. During this period, he collected the initial data and developed the method for mapping metabolic pathways into network structures.
He subsequently completed a second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis, under the supervision of Prof. Eduardo Blumwald. There, he conducted experiments designed to validate the findings generated by the method he had developed during his first postdoctoral fellowship. His work was supported by Dr. Nir Sade, then a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Blumwald’s laboratory and now a professor at Tel Aviv University.
Looking Beyond Quantities to Biological Activity
"The innovative research method we employed revealed the pathways that are active within the plant or within the cell itself. Rather than focusing on quantities, we focused on activity levels," Dr. Toubiana explained.
"In potatoes, for example, we discovered a pathway that may improve the resilience of the tuber. Understanding the metabolic pathways that help plants survive could make it possible to develop stronger, more resilient crops and even enhance their nutritional value."
Dr. Toubiana is now Principal Research Scientist, Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) – Volcani Institute.
Accelerating Plant Science Through Computation
Prof. Rami Puzis, a senior researcher at BGU’s Stein Faculty of Computer and Information Science, noted that the method is expected to shorten lengthy scientific processes.
"Discovering metabolic pathways is a complex and time-consuming process," he said. "We hope that the computational approach we have developed will reduce the need for some experiments and significantly accelerate our understanding of how plants respond to environmental changes. In this way, it can contribute to improving global food security."
Building a Foundation for Future Crop Research
The researchers emphasize that the method could serve as a foundation for future studies examining how additional agricultural crops can be strengthened as part of the international effort to ensure food security in an era of climate change.
