Application of CRISPR-CAs9 in Chrysanthemum Using Transgenes as Targets

While the CRISPR-Cas9 system has been widely used in several crops, introducing mutations in higher polyploid plant species, especially for species without genome information, has been difficult. An example of which is chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), one of the most important ornamental plants, a hexaploid and lacks genome information.

The team of Mitsuko Kishi-Kaboshi from National Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan attempted to perform gene editing using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to introduce mutations into chrysanthemum. The team developed transgenic chrysanthemum plants expressing the yellowish-green fluorescent protein gene from Chiridius poppei (CpYGFP) and targeted CpYGFP for gene editing.

The team then selected two sgRNAs to target different positions in the CpYGFP gene and obtained the transgenic calli containing mutated CpYGFP genes. Analysis revealed that cells containing the mutated CpYGFP gene grew independently of the cells containing the original CpYGFP gene in one callus. The team then finally obtained the CRISPR−CpYGFP-chrysanthemum shoot containing a mutation in CpYGFP.

This study is the first report on using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in chrysanthemum.

For more information, read the article in Plant and Cell Physiology.