J Integr Plant Biol ›› 2021, Vol. 63 ›› Issue (12): 2038-2042.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13199

• • 上一篇    下一篇

  

  • 收稿日期:2021-11-29 接受日期:2021-12-01 出版日期:2021-12-01 发布日期:2021-12-29

Highly efficient, genotype-independent transformation and gene editing in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) using a chimeric ClGRF4-GIF1 gene

Qin Feng, Ling Xiao, Yizhen He, Man Liu, Jiafa Wang, Shujuan Tian, Xian Zhang and Li Yuan*   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    These authors contributed equally to this work.
    *Correspondence: Li Yuan (lyuan@nwafu.edu.cn)
  • Received:2021-11-29 Accepted:2021-12-01 Online:2021-12-01 Published:2021-12-29

Abstract: Efficient genetic transformation has the potential to advance research and breeding in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), but regeneration from tissue culture remains challenging. Previous work showed that expressing a fusion of two interacting transcription factors, GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR4 (GRF4) and GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (GIF1), improved regeneration in wheat (Triticum aestivum). By overexpressing a chimeric fusion of ClGRF4 and ClGIF1, we achieved highly efficient transformation in watermelon. Mutating the mi396 microRNA target site in ClGRF further boosted the transformation efficiency up to 67.27% in a genotype-independent manner. ClGRF4-GIF1 can also be combined with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing tools to achieve highly efficient gene editing in watermelon, which we used to successfully create diploid seedless watermelon. This research thus puts forward a powerful transformation tool for future watermelon research and breeding.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]