Amid growing concerns over climate change and limited resources, scientists are working to develop crops that can not only endure tough conditions but thrive in them.
One such breakthrough is the “Desert Dew” tomato, a new variety bred by Changbin Chen, associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences. Designed for rapid growth, high nutrient content, and resilience in extreme environments, Desert Dew marks a significant step toward more sustainable agriculture.
Built for Adaptation
Originally developed in Minnesota to suit short, frost-prone growing seasons, the breeding program shifted focus when Chen moved to Arizona in 2021. There, the project expanded to tackle new challenges, including extreme heat, drought, and intense UV exposure common to desert regions.
“We realized this variety is useful not only for short growing seasons in northern regions,” Chen explained, “but also for hot climates with two brief growing periods, like Arizona.”
In a 2025 study published in HortScience, Changbin Chen describes the “Desert Dew” tomato as a compact, determinate variety that matures three to four weeks faster than standard tomatoes — a major benefit for growers facing limited time or resources, according to a press release.
Its small size, marked by short internodes and a limited canopy, makes it ideal for container gardening, dense planting, and indoor or urban farming. “You can grow these in a very small space like a patio, pot or space share, and they would produce a pretty decent amount of tomatoes for salad or snacks,” Chen noted during a field trial.
This compact form is also suited to mechanical harvesting and vertical farming — key in settings where space is limited. The variety’s potential for small-space agriculture opens doors for use in controlled environments like greenhouses or even space stations, where traditional pollination methods such as hand-pollination or using bumblebees can be challenging.
“We are trying to develop lines that can achieve highly effective self-pollination,” Chen explained. “That way, you don’t have to seek other pollinators.”
A key feature supporting this goal is the tomato’s unique pointed tip, which may enhance self-pollination efficiency.
Chen’s broader research explores how plants respond to stressors like drought, intense UV radiation, and extreme temperatures. A central focus is shortening crop life cycles to conserve water and reduce vulnerability to pests and disease.
“If you have the same amount of yield but with a shorter time period, it’s going to save water, which can then be used for something else,” Chen said.
Desert Dew isn’t just fast-growing — it’s also rich in nutrients, with notably higher vitamin C levels than standard red tomatoes. Chen sees nutrition as a key focus for future development, including the potential to boost vitamin D through gene editing.
While commercialization is on the table, Chen hopes Desert Dew will also serve the local community, potentially starting with ASU. “We want to do something that benefits society directly,” he said, “and we hope it can be applied quickly.”
