WORLD (Enmaeya News) – November 1, 2025

Scientists at Kobe University have uncovered why pumpkins, squash, zucchini, and other gourds are especially prone to absorbing pollutants from the soil and storing them in their edible parts.

The discovery reveals that a small protein within the plants acts as a carrier for contaminants through the plant sap, determining how much pollution ends up in the fruits.

The research, led by agricultural scientist Hideyuki Inui, shows that while similar proteins exist in many plants, subtle differences in their structure—and how they are secreted into the sap, explain why some gourds accumulate higher levels of toxins than others.

To test their findings, the team introduced the high-accumulation protein into tobacco plants, which then displayed the same ability to transport pollutants into their tissues. This breakthrough provides a dual opportunity: growing crops that are safer for consumption and engineering plants that can clean contaminated soil.

Inui emphasizes that the study bridges food safety and environmental remediation. By manipulating the pollutant-transporting proteins, researchers hope to cultivate gourds that resist contamination and develop bioengineered plants capable of detoxifying polluted land.

The research, published in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Murao Educational Foundation, highlighting the potential for science to make both our food and our environment safer.