CRISPR-Adventskalender

Good development of plant roots is essential for good plant growth, as roots are responsible for water and nutrient uptake, among other things. Root systems are also a key organ for stress perception and response. Cotton plants have a typical taproot system that includes main and secondary roots. An improvement in lateral root formation could increase the total root surface area and thus promote the growth of the entire cotton plant. Chinese scientists at Anhui Agricultural University have succeeded in eliminating both copies of a cotton gene using the CRISPR/Cas method. The result was improved lateral root growth at both high and low nitrogen concentrations.