This unassuming relative of cultivated tobacco, native to Australia, is a true workhorse in plant biology laboratories worldwide. Its unique genetic characteristics make it exceptionally susceptible to various pathogens and remarkably easy to genetically modify, allowing scientists to use it as a rapid and effective 'living laboratory'. Researchers first utilised N. benthamiana to study plant-virus interactions. Now it is widely employed to understand gene function, test cellular defence mechanisms, and even produce valuable proteins for vaccines and therapeutics, making this humble plant a cornerstone of modern plant science and biotechnology research with far-reaching impacts on human health and agriculture.
