New Chemical Method Helps in Selection of Desirable Crop Traits

Researchers at the Whitehead Institute have developed a chemical method to generate large-scale genetic diversity in crops, providing a more accessible alternative to traditional mutation breeding. Published in PLOS Genetics, the study led by Mary Gehring describes the use of etoposide, a chemotherapy drug, to induce structural variants—large-scale DNA changes like deletions and duplications—in germinating seeds.

Unlike conventional mutation breeding, which relies on complex and highly regulated radiation, this chemical approach uses standard laboratory tools to interfere with enzymes that manage DNA structure during cell division. The resulting errors in DNA repair create heritable traits that can be selected for in subsequent generations, effectively expanding the genetic toolkit available to breeders.

The method was successfully demonstrated in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, where two-thirds of treated lines showed visible changes in size, leaf shape, and fertility. The research team is now applying this technique to orphan crops, which are vital for regional nutrition but often lack the genetic diversity needed to breed for climate resilience. By screening these chemically altered lines for traits such as salt and drought tolerance, scientists hope to develop robust new varieties that can thrive in harsh environments. This innovation is particularly promising for species that are resistant to CRISPR-based gene editing, offering a scalable way to systematically restructure crop genomes for future food security.

For more details, read the news article on the Whitehead Institute website.