Gene Editing Supplement

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a new method that allows large pieces of genetic information to be inserted into plants with precision. Published in Nature Biotechnology, the study overcomes a long-standing hurdle in plant science, where adding full-length genes has proven far more difficult than simple gene editing.

Gene Editing Improves Tomato Resistance to Drought and Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Researchers from Seoul National University and partners in Korea have identified a gene that can be edited to help tomatoes better withstand both viral infection and drought. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, the team disrupted the SlCNGC18 gene in tomato plants and found that the edited plants showed greater resistance to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) while also surviving drought conditions more effectively.

Enhancing Soybean's Phytophthora sojae Resistance Through Gene Editing

Northeast Agricultural University researchers reported in the journal Plants that overexpression of a soybean gene via CRISPR-Cas9 improves resistance to Phytophthora root rot, a major soybean disease that impacts yield and quality.

Mutation in Rice Protein Kinase Leads to Drought Tolerance

Drought poses a major threat to rice farming, making it crucial to understand how plants manage water stress so scientists can breed hardier crops. In a study conducted by researchers at Kangwon National University, it was elucidated how a unique mutant rice strain handles drought remarkably well. By mapping its genetics, they traced this drought resilience back to a specific mutation in a gene called OsRRK1. When working normally, this gene acts like a chemical off-switch for drought defense. By disabling this switch through gene editing and crossbreeding, the scientists produced rice plants that naturally resist dry conditions far better than standard varieties.

Research and Tools

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