Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain最新文献

Genome editing tools have rapidly been adopted by plant scientists for crop improvement. Genome editing using a multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system is a useful technique for crop improvement in monocot species. In this study, we utilized precise gene editing techniques to generate wheat 3'(2'), 5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase (TaSal1) mutants using a multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Five active TaSal1 homologous genes were found in the genome of Giza168 in addition to another apparently inactive gene on chromosome 4A. Three gRNAs were designed and used to target exons 4, 5 and 7 of the five wheat TaSal1 genes. Among the 120 Giza168 transgenic plants, 41 lines exhibited mutations and produced heritable TaSal1 mutations in the M₁ progeny and 5 lines were full 5 gene knock-outs. These mutant plants exhibit a rolled-leaf phenotype in young leaves and bended stems, but there were no significant changes in the internode length and width, leaf morphology, and stem shape. Anatomical and scanning electron microscope studies of the young leaves of mutated TaSal1 lines showed closed stomata, increased stomata width and increase in the size of the bulliform cells. Sal1 mutant seedlings germinated and grew better on media containing polyethylene glycol than wildtype seedlings. Our results indicate that the application of the multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is efficient tool for mutating more multiple TaSal1 loci in hexaploid wheat.

Flowering time is an important factor limiting the planting area of maize (Zea may L.). Gibberellin (GA) can regulate plant flowering time by mediating the GA signaling pathway. This study screened significantly down-regulated gene ZmGRAS46 by early flowering mutant transcriptomic sequencing (PRJNA788070) in the previous laboratory. The expression pattern analysis of the ZmGRAS46 gene shows that it has the highest expression level in maize stems. The stem treatment with 200 μmol/L GA₃ resulted in the lowest expression of ZmGRAS46 at 3 h. Positive maize plants were obtained through the modified Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of maize. The results showed that overexpression of ZmGRAS46 delayed the flowering of maize, and gene editing of ZmGRAS46 made maize blossom earlier. In addition, overexpression of ZmGRAS46 could increase maize 100-grain weight. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of the GRAS gene in regulating plant flowering.

Malic acid markedly affects watermelon flavor. Reducing the malic acid content can significantly increase the sweetness of watermelon. An effective solution strategy is to reduce watermelon malic acid content through molecular breeding technology. In this study, we measured the TSS and pH of six watermelon varieties at four growth nodes. The TSS content was very low at 10 DAP and accumulated rapidly at 18, 26, and 34 DAP. Three phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) genes of watermelon were identified and analyzed. The ClaPEPCK4 expression was inversely proportional to malate content variations in fruits. In transgenic watermelon plants, overexpressing the ClaPEPCK4 gene, malic acid content markedly decreased. In the knockout transgenic watermelon plants, two SNP mutations and one base deletion occurred in the ClaPEPCK4 gene, with the malic acid content in the leaves increasing considerably and the PEPCK enzyme activity reduced to half of the wild-type. It is interesting that the ClaPEPCK4 gene triggered the closure of leaf stomata under dark conditions in the knockout transgenic plants, which indicated its involvement in stomatal movement. In conclusion, this study provides a gene target ClaPEPCK4 for creating innovative new high-sweetness watermelon varieties.

To feed the world's expanding population, crop breeders need to increase agricultural productivity and expand major crops base. Orphan crops are indigenously important crops with great potential because they are climate resilient, highly nutritious, contain nutraceutical compounds, and can improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers and consumers, but they have received little or no scientific attention. This review article examines several research and developmental strategies for hastening the improvement of these crops so that they can effectively play their role in securing food and nutrition. The integration of both research and developmental approaches will open up modern opportunities for crop improvement. We summarized ways in which advanced tools in phenotyping and genotyping, using high-throughput processes, can be used to accelerate their improvement. Finally, we suggest roles the genebanks can play in improving orphan crops, as the utilization of plant genetic resources is important for the genetic improvement of a crop.

Maize is a major food crop in China, and drought is one of the major abiotic stresses that threaten the growth and development of the crop, seriously affecting the crop yield. 4-coumaric acid coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is a key enzyme in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway, which can regulate the lignin content of the plant and play an important role in the plant's resistance to drought stress, plays an important role in plant resistance to drought stress. In the present study, we screened the differentially expressed up-regulated gene Zm4CL-like9 under drought stress by pre-transcriptome sequencing data (PRJNA793522) in the laboratory, and analyzed the significant up-regulation of Zm4CL-like9 gene in roots under drought stress by qRT-PCR(Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR). The results of prokaryotic expression experiments showed that the protein encoded by the Zm4CL-like9 gene was able to be expressed in prokaryotic cells and could effectively improve the drought tolerance of E. coli. Phenotypic analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants under drought stress revealed that seed germination rate, root length, and plant survival after drought rehydration were significantly higher in transgenic Zm4CL-like9 Arabidopsis compared with wild-type Arabidopsis; physiological and biochemical indexes revealed that peroxidase activity, proline (Pro) content, and chlorophyll content were significantly higher in transgenic Arabidopsis compared with wild-type Arabidopsis. Under drought stress, the expression of drought-related genes was significantly up-regulated in transgenic Arabidopsis compared with wild-type Arabidopsis. Taken together, the Zm4CL-like9 gene enhances plant resistance to drought stress by reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation in plants.

China is the second-largest maize producer and consumer globally. During maize production, Fusarium spp. often gets infected, and mycotoxins like fumonisin contaminate it. Fumonisin has become the most widely polluted mycotoxin type in China. Planting genetically - modified maize is an economical and effective approach to reducing fumonisin pollution in products. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two transgenic events from China, Bt-Cry1Ab-Ma CM8101 and Bt-Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, G10evo Ruifeng 8, in reducing fumonisin pollution in maize under the stress of natural and Lepidopteran pests (Ostrinia furnacalis, Mythimna separate, Helicoverpa armigera) in two Chinese sites from 2018-2019. The results showed that under the stress of Lepidoptera insects (O. furnacalis and H. armigera), the total amount of fumonisin in Bt maize decreased significantly. Maize with two insect-resistant transgenic events reduced fumonisin by over 70%. In years with serious fumonisin pollution, the effects of CM8101 and Ruifeng 8 on reducing pollution were more significant. Bt maize can provide area-wide pest management and thus contribute to a progressive phase-down of chemical pesticide use. Genetically-modified insecticidal crops can ensure food and nutrition security, contribute to the sustainable intensification of China's agriculture, and reduce the environmental footprint of food systems.

Advances in New Plant Breeding Techniques (NBTs), particularly spray-on RNA interference (RNAi) biopesticides, necessitates a reevaluation of existing regulatory and governance frameworks. While spray-on RNAi technologies offer promising solutions for sustainable crop protection and targeted pest control without altering plant genomes, they also raise important ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI). This paper explores current ELSI discourses surrounding spray-on RNAi biopesticides, such as issues of environmental risk, regulatory ambiguity, corporate control and public acceptance. The study also highlights the importance to incorporate trust as an ethical element in developing regulatory and governance framework for the RNAi technology to increase public acceptance toward the technology. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on the governance of novel biotechnologies in agriculture, offering guidance for future regulatory design tailored to the unique characteristics of spray-on RNAi-based interventions.

Several genetically modified (GM) potatoes have been developed by introducing endogenous genes derived from potatoes, such as asparagine synthetase-1 (Asn1) and polyphenol oxidase 5 (Ppo5), to improve quality. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish between GM and non-GM potatoes. In this study, we developed a sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method to identify innate and inserted genes. We designed four Asn1 gene-specific primers and eight construct-specific detection primers to evaluate GM potatoes (E12, X17, and Y9) and non-GM crops. Consequently, PCR products corresponding to the original endogenous potato genes and the inserted genes were clearly distinguished and simultaneously identified. In addition, the PCR method demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to identify GM content at levels as low as 0.5%. Thus, this study offers an effective detection method for monitoring or screening approved and unapproved GM potato events using Asn1 and Ppo5 transgenes in foods and feeds.

In light of the fact that climate change has emerged as one of the difficulties confronting the global food system, researchers are obligated to work toward developing fundamental crops, particularly wheat, to combat environmental stress, including drought and salt. In the present study, genetic engineering was used to transfer the Arabidopsis MDAR1 gene, which controls the buildup of ascorbic acid (AsA) to make bread wheat less likely to be sensitive to salt stress. The biolistic bombardment was used to transfer cDNA from the Arabidopsis thaliana plant that encodes MDAR1 into Bobwhite 56 cultivar wheat plants. A molecular investigation was performed on six different transgenic lines to confirm the integration of the transgene, the copy number, and the expression of the transgene. There were one to three copies of the transgene, and there was no association found between the number of copies of the transgene and All the data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].the presence of its expression. Compared to plants that were not transgenic, the amount of ascorbic acid (AsA) that accumulated in the transgenic plants was twice as high. ROS concentrations are significantly lower in transgenic plants compared to non-transgenic plants under both control and salt stress conditions, effectively reducing oxidative stress. By cultivating transgenic T2 plants in a greenhouse, we were able to determine whether they were able to tolerate the potentially damaging effects of salt stress (200 mm). The study concluded that transgenic wheat plants that consistently expressed the MDAR1 gene become tolerant to salt stress with improvement in growth characteristics.