Biotech Updates

Better Resistance to Citrus Canker Achieved Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated Editing

August 7, 2019

Experts from Southwest University in China successfully reduced the susceptibility of Wanjincheng orange to citrus canker, a destructive disease of citrus causing losses worldwide. The results are published in Plant Biotechnology Reports.

In a previous study, Lijuan Wang and colleagues found out that CsWRKY22 is involved in the plant immunity response to citrus canker in Wanjincheng orange. Thus, they targeted that specific gene to enhance the resistance of Wanjincheng orange against citrus canker using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. From the 7 transgenic plants, 3 mutant plants showed high mutation rates. Resistance tests showed that the mutant plants exhibited lesser susceptibility to citrus canker.

Based on the results, CRISPR-Cas9 targeted gene modification is an effective tool in improving disease resistance in citrus.

Read the research article in Plant Biotechnology Reports.


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