A team of researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, has developed a method to silence genes in plants using short RNA sequences carried by genetically modified viruses. This breakthrough in plant biotechnology enables the customization of plant traits. The study, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, may open new avenues in crop breeding, functional genomics, and sustainable agriculture.
The technology utilizes modified viruses, which have had their harmful genetic material removed, to carry specific RNA sequences that are introduced into plants. This experimental technique has proven effective in inducing flowering, accelerating the development of improved crops, modifying plant architecture for mechanization, and improving drought tolerance.
This approach was optimized by the CSIC, in collaboration with the University Research Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity and the Department of Supercomputing Applications and Innovation in Italy. “We have implemented synthetic biology approaches compatible with industrial-scale production,” said Fabio Pasin of the Margarita Salas Biological Research Center.
The method, known as virus-borne short RNA (vsRNAi) insertions, improves the agronomic characteristics of crops. A benign plant virus carries short RNA molecules, triggering RNA interference, a mechanism that switches off genes by preventing the translation of genetic information into proteins.
The researchers used vsRNAi to design 24-nucleotide RNA sequences to silence specific genes in plants. Ultra-short sequences offer advantages such as smaller size and complexity, allowing for faster and more cost-effective applications. The team targeted the CHLI gene, which is essential for chlorophyll biosynthesis, and demonstrated effective gene silencing by observing yellowing of leaves and decreased chlorophyll levels.
The approach was applied to the Nicotiana benthamiana model plant, producing phenotypic changes in Solanaceae crops, such as scarlet tomatoes and aubergines. This technique stands out thanks to its simplicity, specificity, and absence of stable genomic modifications. “It is a breakthrough in plant biotechnology with revolutionary potential for research and agriculture,” Pasin stated.
The results suggest implications for agriculture, with the potential to temporarily alter crop traits to improve yields, make them resistant to diseases, and improve their nutritional content. The cross-species portability of vsRNAi reinforces its potential for functional genomics and trait modulation.
Source: CSIC