CRISPR/Cas, a powerful tool for genome editing in ornamental plants

Abstract

Biotechnology is a proper implement for breeding traits such as flower size, color and aroma as well as improving disease resistance and improvement of flower vase life. With completion of genome sequencing of many ornamental plants and astonishing progress on site-specific edition, the process of diversification for ornamental plant breeding will accelerate. Nowadays, due to the ease in application, low cost, and availability, CRISPR/Cas has overtaken the other genome editing technologies such as ZFNs, TALENs and meganuclease. CRISPR/Cas is an acquisition immune system in archaea and some bacteria wherein bacteria in response to introduced genetic materials start to make small complementary transcript by which intercepts the existing invasive sequence and inactivates the target DNA with the help of Cas nuclease protein. Broken strands join together by DNA repair system but the mutated nucleotides lead to inactivity of the target gene. The most important achievement of this technology in ornamental plants so far is knocking down homeotic genes involved in plant developmental process and also color change in petunia, torenia, gentian, orchids, and Japanese morning glory. With further development and optimization of this method, we will soon see many changes in the breeding of biotic traits resistance.