Non-integrative CRISPR gene-editing in plants

This project will develop approaches to deliver the gene-editing CRISPR/Cas9 proteins/RNA into plant cells in a non-integrative manner and to create gene-edited plants. It will primarily focus on using virus expression systems, but other approaches such as biolistic transformation of protoplasts with pre-assembled CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins followed by regeneration of gene-edited plants will also be tested.
Initially the approaches will be developed in a model system (tobacco) targeting a gene with an easily screenable phenotype. Once the system is working, due to the wide host range of the virus vectors, it will be tested in a selection of crop species.
If such approaches are successful then this will revolutionize the way in which genetically modified plants are produced, enabling them to be produced without the incorporation of any foreign DNA into their genome.