Bridging Breeding and Biotechnology for Tomato Resilience in Semi‐Arid Regions

Abstract

Tomatoes are global crops, valued for their nutritional content and economic importance. It is vital to grow resilient tomato varieties that meet environmental challenges and consumer expectations to meet tomato demand. Semi‐arid areas expand due to climate change, yet they are becoming significant for food growth due to the growing population, which puts pressure on existing farming areas. However, developing such varieties is complex, as tomato quality is influenced by internal and external traits that affect taste, appearance, and overall consumer acceptance. The success of breeding programs depends on the availability and effective use of genetic diversity. Understanding genetic variability among tomato genotypes is therefore critical. Marker‐assisted selection (MAS) has become a key tool in evaluating genetic diversity and accelerating the selection of desirable traits with precision and consistency. Furthermore, modern biotechnological tools such as transgenic technology and CRISPR‐Cas9 genome editing are now being used to enhance stress resilience. At the same time, transgenic approaches are also used to introduce genes from other species to confer drought or heat tolerance. The goal is to guide the development of resilient tomato varieties for dry areas and ensure they are climate‐resilient and market‐preferred.