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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410565

Research Project: Gene Discovery and Trait Improvement in Soybean, Alfalfa, and Other Legumes by Gene Editing

Location: Plant Science Research

Title: Engineering legume plants for improved water and nutrient acquisition

Author
item Curtin, Shaun

Submitted to: International Society of Root Research Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Roots perform important roles in the life cycle of plants including structural support as well asnd water and nutrient acquisition. Root morphology can be optimized to capture these resources more efficiently and past research has identified many potential root-related candidate genes. However, due to the technical challenges of legume transformation, most have not been functionally validated. This presentation will discuss technologies being used to improve legume transformation as well as new advanced gene editing tools for targeted multi-gene knock-outs, targeted gene knock-in, base editing and prime editing. The development of these tools will facilitate the generation of novel root mutants in elite, wild and unadapted legume germ-plasm with the goal of engineering plants with improved water and nutrient uptake.