A team of researchers has developed a new artificial evolution system to improve the functionality of plant cells.
Led by Professor Gao Caixia and Professor Qiu Jinlong at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team calls the platform Geminivirus Replicon-Assisted in Planta Directed Evolution (GRAPE), according to a release.
The goal? To create plants with better disease resistance.
Under this system, researchers treated genes of interest with mutations. The results were inserted into artificial geminivirus replicons.
The geminivirus replicons used were first developed by the research team. They harnessed geminiviruses — DNA viruses that rapidly replicate in plant cells — and linked them to targeted gene variants, according to the study published in the Science Journal.
These genes then naturally replicated themselves. By combining this method with GRAPE, researchers were able to select desired genes with strong disease immunity for replication using the harnessed mutation.
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As noted in the release, the innovative strategy developed by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences enables the development of "valuable genetic resources" to breed disease-resistant crops.
The system's results are rapid and versatile, so it can be replicated for more agricultural uses.
This feat in the biological field could do wonders for the food supply chain, which has been experiencing increased crop failures. The agricultural industry is suffering, and as a result, grocery prices are consistently rising.
Crop failures are often the result of drought, flood, or disease. The team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences tackled the problem of disease with their newly developed method.
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Not enough time ⏳ According to Kraken Sense, shifts in temperature, precipitation, and humidity increase plant stress levels, which decreases their disease immunity. While crops become more susceptible to disease, pest ranges are expanding.
Consumers can find comfort in the new technology developed to strengthen crop immunity. If put into use, crop failures from disease could decrease in frequency.
Crops, though, will continue to face the wrath of extreme weather events and pollinator population decline. Nevertheless, the work that the team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has done provides a positive glimpse into the future.
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