'Horticulture' CRISPR Cas-mediated and inter-species transfer of broad-spectrum, potentially durable disease resistance in crop plants (CRIMIST-DR).
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
The virus called turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is an important pathogen infecting many crop plant types, reducing yields and making them unmarketable. In order to reproduce, the virus has to use certain proteins in plants. Without these proteins it cannot reproduce. One such plant protein is called the eukaryotic initiation factor iso4E [eIF(iso)4E].
We have shown that in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) which has three copies of eIF(iso)4E, if one of the copies is missing, the virus cannot reproduce, but the plant is unaffected. Chinese cabbage varieties with this resistance (that was identified and characterised at the University of Warwick) are currently being developed by an international seed company (Syngenta). Chinese cabbage is the most important vegetable brassica crop worldwide.
We have been unable to identify any resistance to TuMV in the related and important plant species Brassica oleracea, which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc.
In collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial plant breeding company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the copy of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV needs in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising gene editing technology, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types.
In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into B. oleracea by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative route.
We have shown that in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) which has three copies of eIF(iso)4E, if one of the copies is missing, the virus cannot reproduce, but the plant is unaffected. Chinese cabbage varieties with this resistance (that was identified and characterised at the University of Warwick) are currently being developed by an international seed company (Syngenta). Chinese cabbage is the most important vegetable brassica crop worldwide.
We have been unable to identify any resistance to TuMV in the related and important plant species Brassica oleracea, which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc.
In collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial plant breeding company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the copy of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV needs in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising gene editing technology, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types.
In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into B. oleracea by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative route.
Technical Summary
Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), an important pathogen infecting many crop plant species, reducing yields and making them unmarketable is a member of the Potyviridae family. Like other members of this family, it uses eukaryotic initiation factor 4E proteins [eIF4Es] to complete its life cycle.
We identified recessive broad-spectrum, potentially durable resistance to TuMV in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) and showed that the resistance was due to a non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E. B. rapa has three copies of eIF(iso)4E and three copies of eIF4E, explaining why its growth was unaffected by the loss of one of the copies of eIF(iso)4E.
Despite much effort, we have been unable to identify any meaningful resistance to TuMV in the related and important vegetable plant species Brassica oleracea (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc).
In a collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the ortholog of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV is most likely to need in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising CRISP Cas gene editing, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types.
In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into commercial B. oleracea types by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative non-gene editing route for markets like the EU where gene-edited crops are not approved.
We identified recessive broad-spectrum, potentially durable resistance to TuMV in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa sub-species pekinensis) and showed that the resistance was due to a non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E. B. rapa has three copies of eIF(iso)4E and three copies of eIF4E, explaining why its growth was unaffected by the loss of one of the copies of eIF(iso)4E.
Despite much effort, we have been unable to identify any meaningful resistance to TuMV in the related and important vegetable plant species Brassica oleracea (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts etc).
In a collaboration between the Elizabeth Creak Horticultural Technology Centre and the Plant Virology Group at the University of Warwick, NIAB and the commercial company Syngenta, we aim to knock out the ortholog of eIF(iso)4E that TuMV is most likely to need in order to reproduce in B. oleracea utilising CRISP Cas gene editing, thereby establishing a technique to rapidly develop virus-resistant varieties of the different B. oleracea types.
In collaboration with the commercial seed company Syngenta, we also aim to move the non-functional copy of eIF(iso)4E that the virus cannot use from Chinese cabbage into commercial B. oleracea types by conventional crossing, in order to develop virus-resistant plants by this alternative non-gene editing route for markets like the EU where gene-edited crops are not approved.
| Description | The research has shown that the resistance to turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) has been successfully transferred from the original plant species Brassica rapa to the new plant species Brassica oleracea by non-GM and non-gene editing means. Further funding is being explored to progress the non-GM and non-gene editing aspect of the project. Progress has been made in the gene editing approach and again this aspect of the project is continuing. |
| Exploitation Route | Discussions with Syngenta to identify sources of further funding to progress the non-GM and non-gene editing aspects of the project are ongoing. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | From the research carried out, Syngenta are now aware to which of their Brassica oleracea plant lines the Brassica rapa virus resistance gene retr01 has been transferred to. This will enable the next stages of the non-GM gene transfer. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Collaboration on the inter-species transfer of the recessive, broad-spectrum, potentially durable resistance gene retr01 as part of the 'Horticulture' CRISPR Cas-mediated and inter-species transfer of broad-spectrum, potentially durable disease resistance in crop plants (CRIMIST-DR) project. |
| Organisation | Syngenta International AG |
| Department | Syngenta Ltd (Bracknell) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Phenotyping and genotyping plant lines to determine whether the retr01 gene has been moved from one species to the next and whether it was providing virus resistance. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Syngenta made crosses between Brassica rapa plants possessing retr01 and a bridging plant species and then between the bridging plant species and the recipient species Brassica oleracea. |
| Impact | Brassica oleracea plant lines were identified possessing the transferred virus resistance gene retr01. |
| Start Year | 2024 |