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Sarkar P, Santiago Vazquez J, Zhou M, Levy A, Mou Z, Orbović V. Multiplexed gene editing in citrus by using a multi-intron containing Cas9 gene. Transgenic Res 2024; 33:59-66. [PMID: 38564120 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-024-00380-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Several expression systems have been developed in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) framework allowing for gene editing of disease-associated genes across diverse citrus varieties. In this study, we present a new approach employing a multi-intron containing Cas9 gene plus multiple gRNAs separated with tRNA sequences to target the phytoene desaturase gene in both 'Carrizo' citrange and 'Duncan' grapefruit. Notably, using this unified vector significantly boosted editing efficiency in both citrus varieties, showcasing mutations in all three designated targets. The implementation of this multiplex gene editing system with a multi-intron-containing Cas9 plus a gRNA-tRNA array demonstrates a promising avenue for efficient citrus genome editing, equipping us with potent tools in the ongoing battle against several diseases such as canker and huanglongbing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulami Sarkar
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA
| | - Jorge Santiago Vazquez
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA
| | - Mingxi Zhou
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32602, USA
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Amit Levy
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA
- Department of Cell Sciences and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Zhonglin Mou
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32602, USA
| | - Vladimir Orbović
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, 33850, USA.
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2
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Raeisi H, Safarnejad MR, Alavi SM, de Oliveira Andrade M, Farrokhi N, Elahinia SA. Transient expression of anti-HrpE scFv antibody reduces the hypersensitive response in non-host plant against bacterial phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7121. [PMID: 38531981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57355-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Citrus canker is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) that affects the citrus industry worldwide. Hrp pili subunits (HrpE), an essential component of Type III secretion system (T3SS) bacteria, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Xcc by transporting effector proteins into the host cell and causing canker symptoms. Therefore, development of antibodies that block HrpE can suppress disease progression. In this study, a specific scFv detecting HrpE was developed using phage display technique and characterized using sequencing, ELISA, Western blotting, and molecular docking. In addition, a plant expression vector of pCAMBIA-scFvH6 was constructed and agroinfiltrated into Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samson leaves. The hypersensitive response (HR) in the leaves of transformed and non-transformed plants was evaluated by inoculating leaves with Xcc. After three rounds of biopanning of the phage library, a specific human scFv antibody, named scFvH6, was identified that showed high binding activity against HrpE in ELISA and Western blotting. Molecular docking results showed that five intermolecular hydrogen bonds are involved in HrpE-scFvH6 interaction, confirming the specificity and high binding activity of scFvH6. Successful transient expression of pCAMBIA-scFvH6 in tobacco leaves was verified using immunoassay tests. The binding activity of plant-produced scFvH6 to detect HrpE in Western blotting and ELISA was similar to that of bacterial-produced scFvH6 antibody. Interestingly, tobacco plants expressing scFvH6 showed a remarkable reduction in HR induced by Xcc compared with control plants, so that incidence of necrotic lesions was significantly higher in non-transformed controls (≥ 1.5 lesions/cm2) than in the plants producing scFvH6 (≤ 0.5 lesions/cm2) after infiltration with Xcc inoculum. Our results revealed that the expression of scFvH6 in tobacco leaves can confer resistance to Xcc, indicating that this approach could be considered to provide resistance to citrus bacterial canker disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Raeisi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Arabi Ave., Yemen St., Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Reza Safarnejad
- Department of Plant Viruses, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization of Iran, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Alavi
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maxuel de Oliveira Andrade
- Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Naser Farrokhi
- Departement of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University G.C, Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Ali Elahinia
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agricultural Sciences, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran
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3
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Kerr SC, Shehnaz S, Paudel L, Manivannan MS, Shaw LM, Johnson A, Velasquez JTJ, Tanurdžić M, Cazzonelli CI, Varkonyi-Gasic E, Prentis PJ. Advancing tree genomics to future proof next generation orchard production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1321555. [PMID: 38312357 PMCID: PMC10834703 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1321555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The challenges facing tree orchard production in the coming years will be largely driven by changes in the climate affecting the sustainability of farming practices in specific geographical regions. Identifying key traits that enable tree crops to modify their growth to varying environmental conditions and taking advantage of new crop improvement opportunities and technologies will ensure the tree crop industry remains viable and profitable into the future. In this review article we 1) outline climate and sustainability challenges relevant to horticultural tree crop industries, 2) describe key tree crop traits targeted for improvement in agroecosystem productivity and resilience to environmental change, and 3) discuss existing and emerging genomic technologies that provide opportunities for industries to future proof the next generation of orchards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Kerr
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Saiyara Shehnaz
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lucky Paudel
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Mekaladevi S Manivannan
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Lindsay M Shaw
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Amanda Johnson
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jose Teodoro J Velasquez
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Miloš Tanurdžić
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Erika Varkonyi-Gasic
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter J Prentis
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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4
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Prado GS, Rocha DC, dos Santos LN, Contiliani DF, Nobile PM, Martinati-Schenk JC, Padilha L, Maluf MP, Lubini G, Pereira TC, Monteiro-Vitorello CB, Creste S, Boscariol-Camargo RL, Takita MA, Cristofani-Yaly M, de Souza AA. CRISPR technology towards genome editing of the perennial and semi-perennial crops citrus, coffee and sugarcane. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1331258. [PMID: 38259920 PMCID: PMC10801916 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1331258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Gene editing technologies have opened up the possibility of manipulating the genome of any organism in a predicted way. CRISPR technology is the most used genome editing tool and, in agriculture, it has allowed the expansion of possibilities in plant biotechnology, such as gene knockout or knock-in, transcriptional regulation, epigenetic modification, base editing, RNA editing, prime editing, and nucleic acid probing or detection. This technology mostly depends on in vitro tissue culture and genetic transformation/transfection protocols, which sometimes become the major challenges for its application in different crops. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistics, plasmid or RNP (ribonucleoprotein) transfection of protoplasts are some of the commonly used CRISPR delivery methods, but they depend on the genotype and target gene for efficient editing. The choice of the CRISPR system (Cas9, Cas12), CRISPR mechanism (plasmid or RNP) and transfection technique (Agrobacterium spp., PEG solution, lipofection) directly impacts the transformation efficiency and/or editing rate. Besides, CRISPR/Cas technology has made countries rethink regulatory frameworks concerning genetically modified organisms and flexibilize regulatory obstacles for edited plants. Here we present an overview of the state-of-the-art of CRISPR technology applied to three important crops worldwide (citrus, coffee and sugarcane), considering the biological, methodological, and regulatory aspects of its application. In addition, we provide perspectives on recently developed CRISPR tools and promising applications for each of these crops, thus highlighting the usefulness of gene editing to develop novel cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Souza Prado
- Citrus Research Center “Sylvio Moreira” – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Cordeirópolis, Brazil
| | - Dhiôvanna Corrêia Rocha
- Citrus Research Center “Sylvio Moreira” – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Cordeirópolis, Brazil
- Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Lucas Nascimento dos Santos
- Citrus Research Center “Sylvio Moreira” – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Cordeirópolis, Brazil
- Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Danyel Fernandes Contiliani
- Sugarcane Research Center – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Paula Macedo Nobile
- Sugarcane Research Center – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Lilian Padilha
- Coffee Center of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), Campinas, Brazil
- Embrapa Coffee, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Mirian Perez Maluf
- Coffee Center of the Agronomic Institute of Campinas (IAC), Campinas, Brazil
- Embrapa Coffee, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Greice Lubini
- Sugarcane Research Center – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Tiago Campos Pereira
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Silvana Creste
- Sugarcane Research Center – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Aurélio Takita
- Citrus Research Center “Sylvio Moreira” – Agronomic Institute (IAC), Cordeirópolis, Brazil
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5
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Manchanda P, Kaur H, Khan F, Sidhu GS, Hunjan MS, Chhuneja P, Bains NS. Agroinfiltration-based transient genome editing for targeting phytoene desaturase gene in kinnow mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco). Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00980-z. [PMID: 38041775 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00980-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Citrus reticulata Blanco also known as kinnow mandarin is a widely grown horticultural crop in Punjab. CRISPR/Cas9 technology is being widely used for generation of varieties with increased resilience towards abiotic and biotic stresses as well as improved horticultural traits. Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc)-mediated Agroinfiltration offers a fast and transgene-free method for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 constructs for systemic introduction into plants for functional genomics and expression studies. The technology is currently unexplored in kinnow mandarin. This study is aimed at establishing an efficient method of Cas9 delivery for transient knockout of PDS (phytoene desaturase) gene in kinnow mandarin. The construct pKO-119-PDS N-Cas9/sgRNA:PDS1 carrying sgRNA and Cas9 enzyme was delivered into the dorsal surface of young leaves of kinnow mandarin. The leaves showed albino patches at the point of injection within 60 h. Two surfactants (Triton-X and Silwet™) were used to ease the Agroinfiltration process which resulted in variation in the expression of vector. The Sanger's analysis of the treated plants showed a substitution within the sgRNA region which resulted in change in amino acid from proline to serine. The protocol provides a feasible and an efficient method for genome editing in C. reticulata which could be helpful in future studies aimed at genome editing as well as genetic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Manchanda
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India.
| | - Harleen Kaur
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Faishal Khan
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Gurupkar S Sidhu
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Mandeep S Hunjan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Parveen Chhuneja
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
| | - Navtej S Bains
- School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, India
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6
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Xu J, Zhang Y, Li J, Teper D, Sun X, Jones D, Wang Y, Tao J, Goss EM, Jones JB, Wang N. Phylogenomic analysis of 343 Xanthomonas citri pv. citri strains unravels introduction history and dispersal paths. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011876. [PMID: 38100539 PMCID: PMC10756548 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Xanthomonas citri pv. citri (Xcc) causes the devastating citrus canker disease. Xcc is known to have been introduced into Florida, USA in at least three different events in 1915, 1986 and 1995 with the first two claimed to be eradicated. It was questioned whether the Xcc introduction in 1986 has been successfully eradicated. Furthermore, it is unknown how Xcc has spread throughout the citrus groves in Florida. In this study, we investigated the population structure of Xcc to address these questions. We sequenced the whole genome of 343 Xcc strains collected from Florida groves between 1997 and 2016. Our analysis revealed two distinct clusters of Xcc. Our data strongly indicate that the claimed eradication of the 1986 Xcc introduction was not successful and Xcc strains from 1986 introduction were present in samples from at least 8 counties collected after 1994. Importantly, our data revealed that the Cluster 2 strains, which are present in all 20 citrus-producing counties sampled in Florida, originated from the Xcc introduction event in the Miami area in 1995. Our data suggest that Polk County is the epicenter of the dispersal of Cluster 2 Xcc strains, which is consistent with the fact that three major hurricanes passed through Polk County in 2004. As copper-based products have been extensively used to control citrus canker, we also investigated whether Xcc strains have developed resistance to copper. Notably, none of the 343 strains contained known copper resistance genes. Twenty randomly selected Xcc strains displayed sensitivity to copper. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the introduction, eradication, spread, and copper resistance of Xcc in Florida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xu
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jinyun Li
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Doron Teper
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
| | - Xiaoan Sun
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Debra Jones
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Yayu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jin Tao
- Guangdong Magigene Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Erica M. Goss
- Department of Plant Pathology, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey B. Jones
- Department of Plant Pathology, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, Florida, United States of America
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Martín-Valmaseda M, Devin SR, Ortuño-Hernández G, Pérez-Caselles C, Mahdavi SME, Bujdoso G, Salazar JA, Martínez-Gómez P, Alburquerque N. CRISPR/Cas as a Genome-Editing Technique in Fruit Tree Breeding. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16656. [PMID: 38068981 PMCID: PMC10705926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR (short for "Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats") is a technology that research scientists use to selectively modify the DNA of living organisms. CRISPR was adapted for use in the laboratory from the naturally occurring genome-editing systems found in bacteria. In this work, we reviewed the methods used to introduce CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing into fruit species, as well as the impacts of the application of this technology to activate and knock out target genes in different fruit tree species, including on tree development, yield, fruit quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The application of this gene-editing technology could allow the development of new generations of fruit crops with improved traits by targeting different genetic segments or even could facilitate the introduction of traits into elite cultivars without changing other traits. However, currently, the scarcity of efficient regeneration and transformation protocols in some species, the fact that many of those procedures are genotype-dependent, and the convenience of segregating the transgenic parts of the CRISPR system represent the main handicaps limiting the potential of genetic editing techniques for fruit trees. Finally, the latest news on the legislation and regulations about the use of plants modified using CRISPR/Cas systems has been also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Martín-Valmaseda
- Fruit Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain (C.P.-C.); (N.A.)
| | - Sama Rahimi Devin
- Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7144165186, Iran; (S.R.D.); (S.M.E.M.)
| | - Germán Ortuño-Hernández
- Fruit Breeding Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain; (G.O.-H.); (J.A.S.)
| | - Cristian Pérez-Caselles
- Fruit Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain (C.P.-C.); (N.A.)
| | - Sayyed Mohammad Ehsan Mahdavi
- Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7144165186, Iran; (S.R.D.); (S.M.E.M.)
| | - Geza Bujdoso
- Research Centre for Fruit Growing, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 1223 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Juan Alfonso Salazar
- Fruit Breeding Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain; (G.O.-H.); (J.A.S.)
| | - Pedro Martínez-Gómez
- Fruit Breeding Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain; (G.O.-H.); (J.A.S.)
| | - Nuria Alburquerque
- Fruit Biotechnology Group, Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC (Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Campus Universitario Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain (C.P.-C.); (N.A.)
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8
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Shantharaj D, Minsavage GV, Orbović V, Moore GA, Holmes DR, Römer P, Horvath DM, Lahaye T, Jones JB. A promoter trap in transgenic citrus mediates recognition of a broad spectrum of Xanthomonas citri pv. citri TALEs, including in planta-evolved derivatives. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:2019-2032. [PMID: 37421233 PMCID: PMC10502743 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Citrus bacterial canker (CBC), caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), causes dramatic losses to the citrus industry worldwide. Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), which bind to effector binding elements (EBEs) in host promoters and activate transcription of downstream host genes, contribute significantly to Xcc virulence. The discovery of the biochemical context for the binding of TALEs to matching EBE motifs, an interaction commonly referred to as the TALE code, enabled the in silico prediction of EBEs for each TALE protein. Using the TALE code, we engineered a synthetic resistance (R) gene, called the Xcc-TALE-trap, in which 14 tandemly arranged EBEs, each capable of autonomously recognizing a particular Xcc TALE, drive the expression of Xanthomonas avrGf2, which encodes a bacterial effector that induces plant cell death. Analysis of a corresponding transgenic Duncan grapefruit showed that transcription of the cell death-inducing executor gene, avrGf2, was strictly TALE-dependent and could be activated by several different Xcc TALE proteins. Evaluation of Xcc strains from different continents showed that the Xcc-TALE-trap mediates resistance to this global panel of Xcc isolates. We also studied in planta-evolved TALEs (eTALEs) with novel DNA-binding domains and found that these eTALEs also activate the Xcc-TALE-trap, suggesting that the Xcc-TALE-trap is likely to confer durable resistance to Xcc. Finally, we show that the Xcc-TALE-trap confers resistance not only in laboratory infection assays but also in more agriculturally relevant field studies. In conclusion, transgenic plants containing the Xcc-TALE-trap offer a promising sustainable approach to control CBC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Vladimir Orbović
- Citrus Research and Education CenterUniversity of FloridaLake AlfredFLUSA
| | - Gloria A. Moore
- Department of Horticultural SciencesUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Danalyn R. Holmes
- Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen (ZMBP)Eberhard‐Karls‐Universität TübingenTübingenGermany
| | - Patrick Römer
- Genetics, Department of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichMartinsriedGermany
- Present address:
Avicare+KöthenGermany
| | | | - Thomas Lahaye
- Zentrum für Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen (ZMBP)Eberhard‐Karls‐Universität TübingenTübingenGermany
- Genetics, Department of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichMartinsriedGermany
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9
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Huang X, Jia H, Xu J, Wang Y, Wen J, Wang N. Transgene-free genome editing of vegetatively propagated and perennial plant species in the T0 generation via a co-editing strategy. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1591-1597. [PMID: 37723203 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01520-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Transgene-free plant genome editing in the T0 generation is highly desirable but challenging1,2. Here we achieved such a goal using a co-editing strategy via Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of cytosine base editor to edit ALS encoding acetolactate synthase to confer herbicide chlorsulfuron resistance as a selection marker, Cas12a/CRISPR RNA for editing gene(s) of interest, and green fluorescent protein for selecting transgene-free transformants. The biallelic/homozygous transgene-free mutation rates for target genes among herbicide-resistant transformants ranged from 1.9% to 42.1% in tomato, tobacco, potato and citrus. This co-editing strategy is particularly useful for transgene-free genome editing of vegetatively propagated and perennial plant species in the T0 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoen Huang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Hongge Jia
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Jin Xu
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Yuanchun Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Jiawen Wen
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA.
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10
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Su H, Wang Y, Xu J, Omar AA, Grosser JW, Calovic M, Zhang L, Feng Y, Vakulskas CA, Wang N. Generation of the transgene-free canker-resistant Citrus sinensis using Cas12a/crRNA ribonucleoprotein in the T0 generation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3957. [PMID: 37402755 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39714-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is a destructive citrus disease worldwide. Generating disease-resistant cultivars is the most effective, environmentally friendly and economic approach for disease control. However, citrus traditional breeding is lengthy and laborious. Here, we develop transgene-free canker-resistant Citrus sinensis lines in the T0 generation within 10 months through transformation of embryogenic protoplasts with Cas12a/crRNA ribonucleoprotein to edit the canker susceptibility gene CsLOB1. Among the 39 regenerated lines, 38 are biallelic/homozygous mutants, demonstrating a 97.4% biallelic/homozygous mutation rate. No off-target mutations are detected in the edited lines. Canker resistance of the cslob1-edited lines results from both abolishing canker symptoms and inhibiting Xcc growth. The transgene-free canker-resistant C. sinensis lines have received regulatory approval by USDA APHIS and are exempted from EPA regulation. This study provides a sustainable and efficient citrus canker control solution and presents an efficient transgene-free genome-editing strategy for citrus and other crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Su
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Yuanchun Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Jin Xu
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Ahmad A Omar
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Jude W Grosser
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Milica Calovic
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Liyang Zhang
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc, Coralville, IA, USA
| | - Yu Feng
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | | | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA.
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11
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de Souza-Neto RR, Vasconcelos FNDC, Teper D, Carvalho IGB, Takita MA, Benedetti CE, Wang N, de Souza AA. The Expansin Gene CsLIEXP1 Is a Direct Target of CsLOB1 in Citrus. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:1266-1277. [PMID: 36825333 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-11-22-0424-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Transcription activator-like effectors are key virulence factors of Xanthomonas. They are secreted into host plant cells and mimic transcription factors inducing the expression of host susceptibility (S) genes. In citrus, CsLOB1 is a direct target of PthA4, the primary effector associated with citrus canker symptoms. CsLOB1 is a transcription factor, and its expression is required for canker symptoms induced by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. Several genes are up-regulated by PthA4; however, only CsLOB1 was described as an S gene induced by PthA4. Here, we investigated whether other up-regulated genes could be direct targets of PthA4 or CsLOB1. Seven up-regulated genes by PthA4 were investigated; however, an expansin-coding gene was more induced than CsLOB1. In Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression experiments, we demonstrate that the expansin-coding gene, referred here to as CsLOB1-INDUCED EXPANSIN 1 (CsLIEXP1), is not a direct target of PthA4, but CsLOB1. Interestingly, CsLIEXP1 was induced by CsLOB1 even without the predicted CsLOB1 binding site, which suggested that CsLOB1 has other unknown binding sites. We also investigated the minimum promoter regulated by CsLOB1, and this region and LOB1 domain were conserved among citrus species and relatives, which suggests that the interaction PthA4-CsLOB1-CsLIEXP1 is conserved in citrus species and relatives. This is the first study that experimentally demonstrated a CsLOB1 downstream target and lays the foundation to identify other new targets. In addition, we demonstrated that the CsLIEXP1 is a putative S gene indirectly induced by PthA4, which may serve as the target for genome editing to generate citrus canker-resistant varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinaldo Rodrigues de Souza-Neto
- Citrus Research Center "Sylvio Moreira", Agronomic Institute-IAC, Brazil
- Departament of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Doron Teper
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel
| | | | | | - Celso Eduardo Benedetti
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Brazil
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, U.S.A
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12
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Hemalatha P, Abda EM, Shah S, Venkatesa Prabhu S, Jayakumar M, Karmegam N, Kim W, Govarthanan M. Multi-faceted CRISPR-Cas9 strategy to reduce plant based food loss and waste for sustainable bio-economy - A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117382. [PMID: 36753844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Currently, international development requires innovative solutions to address imminent challenges like climate change, unsustainable food system, food waste, energy crisis, and environmental degradation. All the same, addressing these concerns with conventional technologies is time-consuming, causes harmful environmental impacts, and is not cost-effective. Thus, biotechnological tools become imperative for enhancing food and energy resilience through eco-friendly bio-based products by valorisation of plant and food waste to meet the goals of circular bioeconomy in conjunction with Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs). Genome editing can be accomplished using a revolutionary DNA modification tool, CRISPR-Cas9, through its uncomplicated guided mechanism, with great efficiency in various organisms targeting different traits. This review's main objective is to examine how the CRISPR-Cas system, which has positive features, could improve the bioeconomy by reducing food loss and waste with all-inclusive food supply chain both at on-farm and off-farm level; utilising food loss and waste by genome edited microorganisms through food valorisation; efficient microbial conversion of low-cost substrates as biofuel; valorisation of agro-industrial wastes; mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through forestry plantation crops; and protecting the ecosystem and environment. Finally, the ethical implications and regulatory issues that are related to CRISPR-Cas edited products in the international markets have also been taken into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Palanivel Hemalatha
- Department of Biotechnology, Center of Excellence for Biotechnology and Bioprocess, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, PO Box 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ebrahim M Abda
- Department of Biotechnology, Center of Excellence for Biotechnology and Bioprocess, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, PO Box 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Shipra Shah
- Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Kings Road, Koronivia, P. O. Box 1544, Nausori, Republic of Fiji
| | - S Venkatesa Prabhu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Center of Excellence for Biotechnology and Bioprocess, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, PO Box 16417, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - M Jayakumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Haramaya Institute of Technology, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
| | - N Karmegam
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem, 636 007, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Woong Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - M Govarthanan
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 600 077, India.
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13
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Gao Y, Xu J, Li Z, Zhang Y, Riera N, Xiong Z, Ouyang Z, Liu X, Lu Z, Seymour D, Zhong B, Wang N. Citrus genomic resources unravel putative genetic determinants of Huanglongbing pathogenicity. iScience 2023; 26:106024. [PMID: 36824272 PMCID: PMC9941208 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrus HLB caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus is a pathogen-triggered immune disease. Here, we identified putative genetic determinants of HLB pathogenicity by integrating citrus genomic resources to characterize the pan-genome of accessions that differ in their response to HLB. Genome-wide association mapping and analysis of allele-specific expression between susceptible, tolerant, and resistant accessions further refined candidates underlying the response to HLB. We first developed a phased diploid assembly of Citrus sinensis 'Newhall' genome and produced resequencing data for 91 citrus accessions that differ in their response to HLB. These data were combined with previous resequencing data from 356 accessions for genome-wide association mapping of the HLB response. Genes determinants for HLB pathogenicity were associated with host immune response, ROS production, and antioxidants. Overall, this study has provided a significant resource of citrus genomic data and identified candidate genes to be further explored to understand the genetic determinants of HLB pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Gao
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Zhilong Li
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yunzeng Zhang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Nadia Riera
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
| | - Zhiwei Xiong
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhigang Ouyang
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xinjun Liu
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhanjun Lu
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | | | - Balian Zhong
- National Navel Orange Engineering Research Center, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Nian Wang
- Citrus Research and Education Center, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, IFAS, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL, USA
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14
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Ma Z, Ma L, Zhou J. Applications of CRISPR/Cas genome editing in economically important fruit crops: recent advances and future directions. MOLECULAR HORTICULTURE 2023; 3:1. [PMID: 37789479 PMCID: PMC10515014 DOI: 10.1186/s43897-023-00049-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Fruit crops, consist of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, are the major sources of nutrients and fiber for human diet. Since 2013, CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-Associated Protein) genome editing system has been widely employed in different plants, leading to unprecedented progress in the genetic improvement of many agronomically important fruit crops. Here, we summarize latest advancements in CRISPR/Cas genome editing of fruit crops, including efforts to decipher the mechanisms behind plant development and plant immunity, We also highlight the potential challenges and improvements in the application of genome editing tools to fruit crops, including optimizing the expression of CRISPR/Cas cassette, improving the delivery efficiency of CRISPR/Cas reagents, increasing the specificity of genome editing, and optimizing the transformation and regeneration system. In addition, we propose the perspectives on the application of genome editing in crop breeding especially in fruit crops and highlight the potential challenges. It is worth noting that efforts to manipulate fruit crops with genome editing systems are urgently needed for fruit crops breeding and demonstration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Ma
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China
| | - Lijing Ma
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China
| | - Junhui Zhou
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China.
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15
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May D, Paldi K, Altpeter F. Targeted mutagenesis with sequence-specific nucleases for accelerated improvement of polyploid crops: Progress, challenges, and prospects. THE PLANT GENOME 2023:e20298. [PMID: 36692095 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Many of the world's most important crops are polyploid. The presence of more than two sets of chromosomes within their nuclei and frequently aberrant reproductive biology in polyploids present obstacles to conventional breeding. The presence of a larger number of homoeologous copies of each gene makes random mutation breeding a daunting task for polyploids. Genome editing has revolutionized improvement of polyploid crops as multiple gene copies and/or alleles can be edited simultaneously while preserving the key attributes of elite cultivars. Most genome-editing platforms employ sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) to generate DNA double-stranded breaks at their target gene. Such DNA breaks are typically repaired via the error-prone nonhomologous end-joining process, which often leads to frame shift mutations, causing loss of gene function. Genome editing has enhanced the disease resistance, yield components, and end-use quality of polyploid crops. However, identification of candidate targets, genotyping, and requirement of high mutagenesis efficiency remain bottlenecks for targeted mutagenesis in polyploids. In this review, we will survey the tremendous progress of SSN-mediated targeted mutagenesis in polyploid crop improvement, discuss its challenges, and identify optimizations needed to sustain further progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- David May
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Katalin Paldi
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fredy Altpeter
- Agronomy Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA
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16
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Nerva L, Dalla Costa L, Ciacciulli A, Sabbadini S, Pavese V, Dondini L, Vendramin E, Caboni E, Perrone I, Moglia A, Zenoni S, Michelotti V, Micali S, La Malfa S, Gentile A, Tartarini S, Mezzetti B, Botta R, Verde I, Velasco R, Malnoy MA, Licciardello C. The Role of Italy in the Use of Advanced Plant Genomic Techniques on Fruit Trees: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24020977. [PMID: 36674493 PMCID: PMC9861864 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is deeply impacting the food chain production, lowering quality and yield. In this context, the international scientific community has dedicated many efforts to enhancing resilience and sustainability in agriculture. Italy is among the main European producers of several fruit trees; therefore, national research centers and universities undertook several initiatives to maintain the specificity of the 'Made in Italy' label. Despite their importance, fruit crops are suffering from difficulties associated with the conventional breeding approaches, especially in terms of financial commitment, land resources availability, and long generation times. The 'new genomic techniques' (NGTs), renamed in Italy as 'technologies for assisted evolution' (TEAs), reduce the time required to obtain genetically improved cultivars while precisely targeting specific DNA sequences. This review aims to illustrate the role of the Italian scientific community in the use of NGTs, with a specific focus on Citrus, grapevine, apple, pear, chestnut, strawberry, peach, and kiwifruit. For each crop, the key genes and traits on which the scientific community is working, as well as the technological improvements and advancements on the regeneration of local varieties, are presented. Lastly, a focus is placed on the legal aspects in the European and in Italian contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Nerva
- Research Center for Viticulture and Enology, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 31015 Conegliano, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, 10135 Torino, Italy
| | - Lorenza Dalla Costa
- Research and Innovation Centre, Foundation Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Angelo Ciacciulli
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 95024 Acireale, Italy
| | - Silvia Sabbadini
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Vera Pavese
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Dondini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Vendramin
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00134 Rome, Italy
| | - Emilia Caboni
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00134 Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Perrone
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, 10135 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Moglia
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Sara Zenoni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Vania Michelotti
- Research Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 29017 Fiorenzuola D’Arda, Italy
| | - Sabrina Micali
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00134 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano La Malfa
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gentile
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Stefano Tartarini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberto Botta
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Torino, Italy
| | - Ignazio Verde
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 00134 Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Velasco
- Research Center for Viticulture and Enology, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 31015 Conegliano, Italy
| | - Mickael Arnaud Malnoy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Foundation Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.A.M.); (C.L.); Tel.: +39-04-6161-5536 (M.A.M.); +39-09-5765-3104 (C.L.)
| | - Concetta Licciardello
- Research Center for Olive Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 95024 Acireale, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.A.M.); (C.L.); Tel.: +39-04-6161-5536 (M.A.M.); +39-09-5765-3104 (C.L.)
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Cao L, Wang Z, Ma H, Liu T, Ji J, Duan K. Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated raffinose synthase gene editing reduces raffinose family oligosaccharides in soybean. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1048967. [PMID: 36457532 PMCID: PMC9706108 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1048967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important world economic crop. It is rich in oil, protein, and starch, and soluble carbohydrates in soybean seeds are also important for human and livestock consumption. The predominant soluble carbohydrate in soybean seed is composed of sucrose and raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). Among these carbohydrates, only sucrose can be digested by humans and monogastric animals and is beneficial for metabolizable energy, while RFOs are anti-nutritional factors in diets, usually leading to flatulence and indigestion, ultimately reducing energy efficiency. Hence, breeding efforts to remove RFOs from soybean seeds can increase metabolizable energy and improve nutritional quality. The objective of this research is to use the multiplex Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated gene editing system to induce the knockout of soybean raffinose synthase (RS) genes RS2 and RS3 simultaneously to reduce RFOs in mature seeds. First, we constructed five types of multiplex gene editing systems and compared their editing efficiency in soybean hairy roots. We confirmed that the two-component transcriptional unit (TCTU) and single transcriptional unit (STU) systems with transfer RNA (tRNA) as the cleavage site performed better than other systems. The average editing efficiency at the four targets with TCTU-tRNA and STU-tRNA was 50.5% and 46.7%, respectively. Then, we designed four single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targets to induce mutations at RS2 and RS3 by using the TCTU-tRNA system. After the soybean transformation, we obtained several RS2 and RS3 mutation plants, and a subset of alleles was successfully transferred to the progeny. We identified null single and double mutants at the T2 generation and analyzed the seed carbohydrate content of their progeny. The RS2 and RS3 double mutants and the RS2 single mutant exhibited dramatically reduced levels of raffinose and stachyose in mature seeds. Further analysis of the growth and development of these mutants showed that there were no penalties on these phenotypes. Our results indicate that knocking out RS genes by multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing is an efficient way to reduce RFOs in soybean. This research demonstrates the potential of using elite soybean cultivars to improve the soybean meal trait by multiplex CRISPR(Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9-mediated gene editing.
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18
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Liu S, Wang X, Li Q, Peng W, Zhang Z, Chu P, Guo S, Fan Y, Lyu S. AtGCS promoter-driven clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 highly efficiently generates homozygous/biallelic mutations in the transformed roots by Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:952428. [PMID: 36330262 PMCID: PMC9623429 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.952428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated (ARM) transformation is an efficient and powerful tool to generate transgenic roots to study root-related biology. For loss-of-function studies, transgenic-root-induced indel mutations by CRISPR/Cas9 only with homozygous/biallelic mutagenesis can exhibit mutant phenotype(s) (excluding recessive traits). However, a low frequency of homozygous mutants was produced by a constitutive promoter to drive Cas9 expression. Here, we identified a highly efficient Arabidopsis thaliana gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase promoter, termed AtGCSpro, with strong activity in the region where the root meristem will initiate and in the whole roots in broad eudicots species. AtGCSpro achieved higher homozygous/biallelic mutation efficiency than the most widely used CaMV 35S promoter in driving Cas9 expression in soybean, Lotus japonicus, and tomato roots. Using the pAtGCSpro-Cas9 system, the average homozygous/biallelic mutation frequency is 1.7-fold and 8.3-fold higher than the p2 × 35Spro-Cas9 system for single and two target site(s) in the genome, respectively. Our results demonstrate the advantage of the pAtGCSpro-Cas9 system used in ARM transformation, especially its great potential in diploids with multiple-copy genes targeted mutations and polyploid plants with multiplex genome editing. AtGCSpro is conservatively active in various eudicots species, suggesting that AtGCSpro might be applied in a wide range of dicots species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yinglun Fan
- *Correspondence: Yinglun Fan, ; Shanhua Lyu, ;
| | - Shanhua Lyu
- *Correspondence: Yinglun Fan, ; Shanhua Lyu, ;
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19
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Huang X, Wang Y, Wang N. Base Editors for Citrus Gene Editing. Front Genome Ed 2022; 4:852867. [PMID: 35296063 PMCID: PMC8919994 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.852867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Base editors, such as adenine base editors (ABE) and cytosine base editors (CBE), provide alternatives for precise genome editing without generating double-strand breaks (DSBs), thus avoiding the risk of genome instability and unpredictable outcomes caused by DNA repair. Precise gene editing mediated by base editors in citrus has not been reported. Here, we have successfully adapted the ABE to edit the TATA box in the promoter region of the canker susceptibility gene LOB1 from TATA to CACA in grapefruit (Citrus paradise) and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). TATA-edited plants are resistant to the canker pathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc). In addition, CBE was successfully used to edit the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene in citrus. ALS-edited plants were resistant to the herbicide chlorsulfuron. Two ALS-edited plants did not show green fluorescence although the starting construct for transformation contains a GFP expression cassette. The Cas9 gene was undetectable in the herbicide-resistant citrus plants. This indicates that the ALS edited plants are transgene-free, representing the first transgene-free gene-edited citrus using the CRISPR technology. In summary, we have successfully adapted the base editors for precise citrus gene editing. The CBE base editor has been used to generate transgene-free citrus via transient expression.
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20
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Jia H, Wang Y, Su H, Huang X, Wang N. LbCas12a-D156R Efficiently Edits LOB1 Effector Binding Elements to Generate Canker-Resistant Citrus Plants. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030315. [PMID: 35159125 PMCID: PMC8834406 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is an economically important disease in most citrus production regions worldwide. Xcc secretes a transcriptional activator like effector (TALE) PthA4 to bind to the effector binding elements (EBEs) in the promoter region of canker susceptibility gene LOB1 to activate its expression, which in turn causes canker symptoms. Editing the EBE region with Cas9/gRNA has been used to generate canker resistant citrus plants. However, most of the EBE-edited lines generated contain indels of 1–2 bp, which has higher possibility to be overcome by PthA4 adaptation. The adaptation capacity of TALEs inversely correlates with the number of mismatches with the EBE. LbCas12a/crRNA is known to generate longer deletion than Cas9. In this study, we used a temperature-tolerant and more efficient LbCas12a variant (ttLbCas12a), harboring the single substitution D156R, to modify the EBE region of LOB1. We first constructed GFP-p1380N-ttLbCas12a:LOBP, which was shown to be functional via Xcc-facilitated agroinfiltration in Pummelo (Citrus maxima) leaves. Subsequently, we stably expressed ttLbCas12a:LOBP in Pummelo. Eight transgenic lines were generated, with seven lines showing 100% mutations of the EBE, among which one line is homozygous. The EBE-edited lines had the ttLbCas12a-mediated deletions of up to 10 bp. Importantly, the seven lines were canker resistant and no off-targets were detected. In summary, ttLbCas12a can be used to efficiently generate biallelic/homozygous citrus mutant lines with short deletions, thus providing a useful tool for the functional study and breeding of citrus.
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