www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

Italian scientists have developed a tomato that can thrive on less than
one-quarter of the water common varieties need.
The tomatoes are grown without soil in a solution of water and nutrients,
Massimo Iannetta of the ENEA Research Institute told the Italian news agency
Ansa. Each plant needs about four gallons of water, compared to 18.5 gallons
for a conventionally grown tomato.

ENEA is developing drought-resistant strains of other types of plants,
including potatoes and wheat. The institute has just completed a test in the
Mexican desert.

"We tried growing selected varieties of cereals and vegetables, and the
results were excellent," he said. "Within a few months, we ought to be able
to register them and put them on the market."

Genetically engineered plants cannot be sold or grown legally in Italy,
although the institute is experimenting with some grown in the laboratory.

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