Crop contamination in the Cucurbitaceae family

The Cucurbitaceae family accumulates persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (the insecticide dieldrin, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls) in their fruits.
Major latex-like proteins (MLPs) identified in zucchini plants are involved in the contamination. MLPs bind to POPs in the roots and are then secreted to the xylem vessels as a complex with POPs. As a result, POPs are transported via MLPs to the fruit, causing contamination.
We have selected low-molecular-weight compounds that regulate the function of MLPs. Specifically, pesticides that suppress MLP genes and competitively inhibit the binding of MLPs to POPs have been applied to reduce the contamination with POPs in the Cucurbitaceae family.