Gene-Edited Cotton Offers Resistance Against Reniform Nematode

A new study shows that gene-edited upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) significantly improved its resistance to the reniform nematode. The researchers from Clemson University, A&L Scientific Editing Inc., and Cotton Incorporated targeted the MLO3 gene using CRISPR-Cas9 to determine its role in protecting cotton from one of the crop's most damaging pests.

Four independent knockout lines (A1, D3, E1, and P3) were generated and tested in greenhouse trials to evaluate their ability to limit nematode reproduction compared with conventional varieties. The results showed that two edited lines, D3 and E1, had sharply lower nematode egg counts and fewer vermiform life stages compared with the control genotypes, Coker 312 (WT), Delta Pearl, and Jin668.

While some growth trade-offs were observed, the findings confirm that knocking out MLO3 can suppress reniform nematode populations and offer a promising path for developing resistant cotton varieties. The researchers recommend further testing of the gene-edited cotton lines, particularly D3 and E1, under field conditions to examine their resistance to reniform nematodes and other plant-parasitic nematodes.

For more information, read the study from MDPI.