CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing and functional genomics for development of multiple biotic & abiotic stress tolerance in Solanum lycopersicum L.
Authors
Banashree Saikia (presenting author) [1, 2]
Channakeshavaiah Chikkaputtaiah [1, 2]
Affiliations
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat-785006, Assam, India
Email (presenting author): banasreesaikia39@gmail.com - Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
Email (presenting author): banasreesaikia39@gmail.com
Keywords
CRISPR/Cas9; Solanum lycopersicum; HyPRP1; DEA1; multi-stress tolerance; climate-resilience
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas is a target-specific, efficient third-generation genome editing technology gaining huge popularity due to its efficiency and robustness. Due to alarming global climate change, the yield and productivity of economically important crops, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), have been severely affected by various abiotic and biotic stresses. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of multiple stress tolerance in crops by utilising the fast-breeding technologies. In this context, a comprehensive study on developing genetic tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress factors in tomato through genome editing and functional genomics are presented. The study has performed systematic CRISPR/Cas9-based precise genome editing of negative regulatory genes of multi-stress tolerance, namely SlHyPRP1 and SlDEA1. Loss-of-function analysis of these genes imparted significant tolerance to drought, salinity, bacterial leaf spot, and bacterial wilt disease in transient and stable lines (GEd2) of tomato. The study showed the key negative regulatory role of SlDEA1, a poorly studied 8CM family gene, functions together as an anchor gene with SlHyPRP1 in imparting multi-stress tolerance in tomato. Given the severe impact of early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, and the limited genetic information available, the study further aims to identify disease-susceptibility genes through transcriptome-wide analysis and to generate early-blight-resistant tomato lines using the established state-of-the-art genome editing system. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive framework for developing climate-resilient, multi-stress-tolerant tomato varieties and holds significant promise for field-deployable and sustainable crop improvement.
Funding
The funding was received by Dr Banashree Saikia as Woman in Science and Engineering-Post Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF) from Department of Science and Technology, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India (Sanction No. DST/WISE-PDF/LS-112/2024 (G).