Scientists are looking for a way to prevent the disappearance of the "chocolate tree"
According to ecologists' forecasts, gradual climate change could lead to the extinction of cocoa trees by 2050. Scientists from the University of California at Berkeley and the company "Mars", which is the world's largest producer of sweets, set out to preserve the yields of the "chocolate tree", writes Business Insider.
For this purpose, specialists are studying the possibility of editing plant genes with the help of CRISPR technology, which is able to make the tree more resistant to high temperatures..
Today, biologists at the University of California have grown experimental cocoa seedlings that must undergo a series of climate tests. Their fruits, in turn, will be checked for suitability for making chocolate by Mars.
"Chocolate trees" can grow only on a narrow strip of the equator in the so-called "rain forests", where the temperature and humidity remain relatively constant throughout the year. Scientists hope that their development will help not only to preserve the cocoa trees from extinction, but also to adapt them to survival in different parts of the globe.
Experiments can also help small-scale farmers in developing countries improve the yield of "chocolate" plants, whose cultivation in some areas is sometimes the main source of income for the local population.
CRISPR technology, developed by the University of California at Berkeley, allows for the finest tuning of plant DNA and is already used to grow some vegetables and fruits in developing countries. This allows local farmers to avoid the effects of global warming, fight pests and compensate for water shortages in the arid terrain.
Taking into account earlier achievements, scientists are sure that they will be able to preserve cocoa plants for future generations, and our descendants will not be left without a sweet chocolate bar for dessert.
