CRISPR-Cas9 Used to Edit Wheat Gene to Increase Grain Shape and Weight
June 26, 2019| |
Grain size and weight are among the vital yield-related traits observed in crops. In a study conducted by Kansas State University, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to edit TaGW7, a homolog of rice OsGW7 encoding a TONNEAU1–recruiting motif (TRM) protein, which led to modifications in grain shape and weight in allohexaploid wheat. The results are published in The Plant Journal.
Editing the TaGW7 homoeologs in the B and D genomes led to mutations that caused an increase in grain width and weight but decreased the length of the grain. It was found that the effects of gene editing on grain morphology and weight characteristics depend on the amount of dosage, with the double-copy mutant having a greater impact than the respective single copy mutants. The TaGW7‐centered gene co‐expression network showed that this gene is linked to the pathways involved in cell division and organ growth, as confirmed by the cellular colocalization of TaGW7 with α‐ and β‐tubulin proteins, the building blocks of microtubule arrays. Further analyses also showed that TaGW7 likely played a vital function in the evolution of yield characteristics in wheat.
Read more results in The Plant Journal.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Ghana's Government Seek Approval of New Law for GMO Regulations
- Argentina Approves Fifth GM Cotton Trait
- Researchers Analyze the Sweet Potato Proteome
- Non-Browning GreenVenus™ Romaine Lettuce Advances to Commercial Trials in the US
- Indian Farmers Continue Their Efforts to Assert Right to Plant Herbicide Tolerant Cotton Seeds
- Value Assessment Trial of GM Maize Shows Benefits of Biotech
- Scientists Develop Climate-ready Wheat that Can Survive Drought Conditions
- 2019 Eurobarometer Reveals Most Europeans Hardly Care About GMOs
-
Research Highlights
- Evaluation of Biochemical Parameters and Drought Resistance in ZmDREB2A Maize
- Transformation of E. coli Modified gdha Gene into Tobacco Improves Productivity and Stress Tolerance
- Scientists Prove Endophytic Ability of Brevibacillus laterosporus Bacterium in Brassica Plants
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- Maize-derived Transcription Factor Expressed in E. coli for Antibodies Production
-
Plant
- CRISPR-Cas9 Used to Edit Wheat Gene to Increase Grain Shape and Weight
- Disruption of Amino Acid Transporter LHT1 Leads to Growth Inhibition and Low Yields in Rice
- Broad Institute Researchers Present CRISPR-based SHERLOCK Platform
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 17, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 10, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet