A new pink pineapple has been genetically engineered by scientists. While its outer appearance resembles a typical pineapple, the tropical fruit has a bluish-pink hue inside of it.
What Makes Pink Pineapples Pink?
The pink color of this genetically engineered fruit can be attributed to lycopene, which is a pigment and carotenoid that is natural to pineapples. This compound also accounts for the reddish hue of tomatoes and watermelons.
For pineapples specifically, an enzyme transforms lycopene into a beta-carotene. This gives the typical yellow color of a pineapple. However, in a pink pineapple, the said enzyme, lycopene beta-cyclase, gets muted. This leads to the accumulation of the lycopene.
The muting of the enzyme is done through a method called RNA interference. This means that a gene with matching RNA was added. It then binds the RNA that holds the message in order to produce the lycopene beta-cyclase. The binding of the RNA stops the enzyme production of the cell.
The new gene was then moved to the genome of the pineapple by making use of specific bacteria that inherently transfer DNA to a particular host cell. Such a process is part of the bacteria's life cycle.
Genetically Engineered Pink Pineapples
This new Pinkglow pineapple, which took 16 years to be accomplished, is currently grown in Costa Rica. It is sold and patented by Del Monte. The company has claimed the novel genetically engineered fruit as its intellectual property. Hence, they are the only ones who can grow the fruit at the moment.
The entire process of genetic engineering started way back in 2005. Six years later, Del Monte tested four plant generations that were grown in Costa Rica from 2010 all the way to 2014.
According to plant breeding and genetic expert Courtney Weber from Cornell University, the entire process of testing a new variety is quite lengthy. The entire process covers testing the variety, putting it out in the field, ensuring the right growth, verifying its acceptability as a new variety, and testing its productivity. The pineapple is also not a plant that grows fast.
Aside from this novel pink pineapple, the company also made "Honeyglow" pineapples that have an incredible golden tone inside.
Pinkglow Hits the Market
Del Monte reported last August that the pink pineapples' demand has been outpacing supply. The sales of both Pinkglow and Honeyglow combined also led to a significantly higher gross profit compared to the previous quarter.
Pinkflow costs around $10 in the grocery stores, which is significantly more expensive that typical varieties as it is double the price of the usual pineapples. Online retailers also sell the tropical fruit for around $29 to $39.
Weber explains that these soaring prices are due to the scarcity of supply and marketing, adding that the price may come down as the fruit's production increases.
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