Engineering homoeologs provide a fine scale for quantitative traits in polyploid

Eun Song Lee, Jung Heo, Woo Young Bang, Kapeel M. Chougule, Nomar Espinosa Waminal, Nguyen Thi Hong, Min Ji Kim, Hong Kwan Beak, Yong Jun Kim, Ryza A. Priatama, Ji In Jang, Kang Il Cha, Seung Han Son, Sujeevan Rajendran, Young Kug Choo, Jong Hyang Bae, Chul Min Kim, Young Koung Lee, Sangsu Bae, Jonathan D. G. JonesKee Hoon Sohn, Jiyoung Lee, Hyun Hee Kim, Jong Chan Hong, Doreen Ware, Keunhwa Kim, Soon Ju Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Numerous staple crops exhibit polyploidy and are difficult to genetically modify. However, recent advances in genome sequencing and editing have enabled polyploid genome engineering. The hexaploid black nightshade species Solanum nigrum has immense potential as a beneficial food supplement. We assembled its genome at the scaffold level. After functional annotations, we identified homoeologous gene sets, with similar sequence and expression profiles, based on comparative analyses of orthologous genes with close diploid relatives Solanum americanum and S. lycopersicum. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis, we generated various mutation combinations in homoeologous genes. Multiple mutants showed quantitative phenotypic changes based on the genotype, resulting in a broad-spectrum effect on the quantitative traits of hexaploid S. nigrum. Furthermore, we successfully improved the fruit productivity of Boranong, an orphan cultivar of S. nigrum suggesting that engineering homoeologous genes could be useful for agricultural improvement of polyploid crops.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2458-2472
Number of pages15
JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal
Volume21
Issue number12
Early online date2 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • agricultural improvement
  • homoeologous gene editing
  • polyploid
  • quantitative traits

Cite this