CIMMYT Reports High-Efficiency Genome Editing in Pearl Millet

Scientists from CIMMYT and Corteva Agriscience successfully devised an effective method to improve pearl millet using genetic transformation and CRISPR-based editing. This breakthrough is expected to help improve traits vital for food security, nutrition, and climate resilience.

Over 90 million people in Africa and Asia rely on pearl millet as food and a source of nutrition. It is known for its resilience, being about to withstand drought, heat, salinity, and low soil fertility; thus, it is an optimal crop for communities with challenging climate conditions. However, there has been slow progress in the research and development of pearl millet because of the limitations in transforming the plant in vitro.  With the new research, the experts developed a pathway to speed up trait discovery and varietal improvement.

By utilizing immature embryos as the primary tissue source, the researchers identified specific types that reliably trigger robust callus induction. These embryos were then inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens that carries genome-editing constructs.

The breakthrough lies in the integration of two morphogenic regulator genes: WUSCHEL2 and BABY BOOM1. These genes facilitate the regeneration of transformed cells into healthy, fertile plants while avoiding the developmental abnormalities common in earlier methods. While this technology has already revolutionized breeding in other cereals, it now establishes a high-efficiency platform for pearl millet.

Read more from CIMMYT and Plant Physiology.