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BULLETIN 1
CAS Experts Optimize Tomato Production for Vertical Farming
ISAAA June 11, 2025
CAS Experts Optimize Tomato Production for Vertical Farming
ISAAA June 11, 2025
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Figure: Photo Source: Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully engineered tomato germplasm optimized for vertical farming. The study, published in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, harnessed genome editing to integrate Green Revolution gene homologs and anti‐florigen genes into tomato plants.
Vertical farming is an innovative technique that combines controlled-environment agriculture with vertical cultivation approaches for industrial-scale crop production. The major challenges that cause delays in the industrial-scale expansion of vertical farming include excessive energy demands and limited availability of crop varieties fit for indoor cultivation. To address these concerns, the researchers aggregated the Green Revolution gene homologs GA20ox with anti-florigen genes SP and SP5G, which led to the development of a molecular module set to revolutionize vertical farming.
Through genome editing, the scientists knocked out the tomato SlGA20ox1 gene, which modified the tomato plant's architecture characterized by short stems and a compact canopy. This modification decreased the space needed by 75% in multi-layer LED hydroponic systems. The space-saving benefit also led to a 38-69% increase in fruit yield due to high-density planting and efficient light use. Further modifications, combining the SlGA20ox1 mutation with SP and SP5G genes, resulted in an even more compact plant, which reduced space occupancy by 85%, shortened the harvest cycle by 16%, and dramatically increased effective yield by 180% in commercial vertical farms.
Read more results from the CAS website.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully engineered tomato germplasm optimized for vertical farming. The study, published in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, harnessed genome editing to integrate Green Revolution gene homologs and anti‐florigen genes into tomato plants.
Vertical farming is an innovative technique that combines controlled-environment agriculture with vertical cultivation approaches for industrial-scale crop production. The major challenges that cause delays in the industrial-scale expansion of vertical farming include excessive energy demands and limited availability of crop varieties fit for indoor cultivation. To address these concerns, the researchers aggregated the Green Revolution gene homologs GA20ox with anti-florigen genes SP and SP5G, which led to the development of a molecular module set to revolutionize vertical farming.
Through genome editing, the scientists knocked out the tomato SlGA20ox1 gene, which modified the tomato plant's architecture characterized by short stems and a compact canopy. This modification decreased the space needed by 75% in multi-layer LED hydroponic systems. The space-saving benefit also led to a 38-69% increase in fruit yield due to high-density planting and efficient light use. Further modifications, combining the SlGA20ox1 mutation with SP and SP5G genes, resulted in an even more compact plant, which reduced space occupancy by 85%, shortened the harvest cycle by 16%, and dramatically increased effective yield by 180% in commercial vertical farms.
Read more results from the CAS website.
BULLETIN 2
Australia's Gene Regulator Approves Field Trial of GM Safflower
Australia's Gene Regulator Approves Field Trial of GM Safflower
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Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 211 to Miruku Australia Pty Ltd. on May 29, 2025, authorizing the limited and controlled release (field trial) of safflower genetically modified (GM) for dairy protein production and altered fatty acid composition to assess the crop's performance under field conditions.
According to the license, the GM safflower may be grown on an area of up to 1 hectare in 2025, increasing to a maximum of 20 sites of up to 5 hectares each in 2029. The maximum total planting area is 231 hectares over the 5-year trial period. The field sites may be located in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and South Australia. The Regulator states that the GM safflower grown in this field trial will not be used in commercial human food or animal feed.
The final Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) concludes that this field trial poses negligible risks to the health and safety of people and the environment. However, license conditions have been imposed to limit the release's size, location, and duration and restrict the spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment.
The finalized RARMP, together with a summary of the RARMP, a set of Questions and Answers on this decision, and a copy of the license, are available online from the DIR 211 page on the OGTR website.
See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21377
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Improving panicle blast resistance and fragrance in a high-quality japonica rice variety through breeding
Junhua Ye, Kai Wang, Yi Wang, Zhipeng Zhao, Ying Yan, Hang Yang, Lixia Zhang, Zejun Hu, Zhenying Shi, Dapeng Sun, Jianjiang Bai, Liming Cao, Shujun Wu
Front Plant Sci.; 2025 Jan 13: 15:1507827. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1507827.
Junhua Ye, Kai Wang, Yi Wang, Zhipeng Zhao, Ying Yan, Hang Yang, Lixia Zhang, Zejun Hu, Zhenying Shi, Dapeng Sun, Jianjiang Bai, Liming Cao, Shujun Wu
Front Plant Sci.; 2025 Jan 13: 15:1507827. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1507827.
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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Huruan1212 (HR1212) is well-regarded for its superior eating and cooking quality in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Still, its high susceptibility to rice panicle blast and lack of fragrance have limited its further spread and utilization. Pigm and Pi-ta are two dominant genes known for their stable broad-spectrum resistance against rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, while badh2 is the crucial gene that regulates rice aroma.
Methods: In this study, we utilized a molecular marker-assisted selection backcrossing strategy to introduce Pigm, Pi-ta, and badh2 into introgressed lines employing re-sequencing for precise genetic background selection.
Results: Finally, we selected three introgressed lines, including two that carry Pigm with the highest background recovery rates, showing eating and cooking qualities similar to those of HR1212, and one line that pyramids Pigm, Pi-ta, and badh2, which features a strong aroma. They all displayed significantly enhanced resistance to panicle blast and improved yield compared to HR1212.
Discussion: In conclusion, this study expanded the germplasm resources of japonica, providing a material foundation for enhancing breeding programs aimed at developing rice blast-resistant and high-quality fragrant japonica varieties. Additionally, the study demonstrated that integrating molecular markers and re-sequencing can inform breeders' decision-making more precisely and efficiently.
See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39872202/
Introduction: Huruan1212 (HR1212) is well-regarded for its superior eating and cooking quality in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Still, its high susceptibility to rice panicle blast and lack of fragrance have limited its further spread and utilization. Pigm and Pi-ta are two dominant genes known for their stable broad-spectrum resistance against rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, while badh2 is the crucial gene that regulates rice aroma.
Methods: In this study, we utilized a molecular marker-assisted selection backcrossing strategy to introduce Pigm, Pi-ta, and badh2 into introgressed lines employing re-sequencing for precise genetic background selection.
Results: Finally, we selected three introgressed lines, including two that carry Pigm with the highest background recovery rates, showing eating and cooking qualities similar to those of HR1212, and one line that pyramids Pigm, Pi-ta, and badh2, which features a strong aroma. They all displayed significantly enhanced resistance to panicle blast and improved yield compared to HR1212.
Discussion: In conclusion, this study expanded the germplasm resources of japonica, providing a material foundation for enhancing breeding programs aimed at developing rice blast-resistant and high-quality fragrant japonica varieties. Additionally, the study demonstrated that integrating molecular markers and re-sequencing can inform breeders' decision-making more precisely and efficiently.
See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39872202/
Figure:
Analysis of genetic similarity between introgressed individuals and recurrent parent HR1212. (A) The distribution of SNP similarity between 41 individuals and recurrent parent. (B) Origin of individuals with various SNP similarities. The vertical red dotted line is located at 69% similarity. Three individuals with the highest similarity were C05 (74.91%), C34 (73.89%), and C12 (69.82%). (C) Distribution of genetic introgressed segments from parents on 12 chromosomes of three individuals. 1 indicates SNP density. From 2 to 4, the tracks represent individuals C34, C12, and C05, respectively. (D) The genomic contribution of parents to the three individuals. The same color scheme was used as (C).
