CRISPR Boosts Tobacco Growth Under Osmotic Stress

Scientists have used a CRISPR-dCas9-based transcriptional activation (CRISPRa) system to enhance the ability of tobacco plants to withstand osmotic stress. By increasing the activity of a plant hormone receptor called BRL3, the researchers were able to promote leaf and root growth while reducing cellular damage caused by stress. This study highlights a promising strategy for developing crops with improved tolerance to harsh environmental conditions.

Using synthetic activation vectors and dual sgRNAs, the gene was boosted up to four times its normal level. The stress-inducible SlAREB promoter showed the largest gains, producing almost four times more leaf biomass and five times more root biomass under stress compared with untreated plants. The NtBRL3-activated plants also maintained a better osmoprotectant balance, less oxidative damage, and a higher frequency of enlarged leaf cells and expanded tissue domains.

The findings show that CRISPR-dCas9-mediated transcriptional activation of NtBRL3 improves both growth and metabolic resilience under osmotic stress conditions. The authors say that the CRISPRa approach provides a transient, non-integrative way to boost stress tolerance while avoiding permanent genetic modifications. This research provides a potential framework for engineering crops that can better cope with drought and other osmotic stresses.

For more information, read the abstract from Physiologia Plantarum.