Mutagenesis of cellulose synthase (CesA-Like) Gene in tomato using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CAS9-system

Abstract

Background: During ripening, the changes in texture involved remodelling of cell walls of fruits including tomato and also alterations in tissue water relations caused by modifications in the cuticle. Aims and Objectives: To better understand the relationship between cell wall remodelling and fruit softening, an understanding of cell wall structure is necessary. Materials and Methods: Cellulose synthase gene that consists of cellulose synthase (CesA-like) plays important role in cellulose biosynthesis. However, CesA family genes are yet to be fully characterized in Solanaceae species. Results: In this study, we generated transgenic plants to test the role of CesA like gene in texture changes using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as a model system. We used the recently developed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/Cas9 DNA editing technology to generate mutations in the target gene. Conclusion: Nevertheless, there was no mutation recovered in the CesA-like gene, and this indicates that this gene product is likely essential for regeneration of plantlets from tissue culture.