Journal
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
Volume 63, Issue 12, Pages 2038-2042Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13199
Keywords
gene editing; genetic transforamtion; GIF; GRF; watermelon
Categories
Funding
- National Youth Talent Program [A279021801]
- Fundamental Research Fund from Northwest AF University [Z1090221008]
- Key R&D Project from Yangling Seed Industry Innovation Center
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Efficient genetic transformation was achieved in watermelon by overexpressing a fusion of two transcription factors, leading to improved regeneration. Combining with gene editing tools, highly efficient gene editing was also demonstrated, resulting in the creation of seedless watermelon.
Efficient genetic transformation has the potential to advance research and breeding in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), but regeneration from tissue culture remains challenging. Previous work showed that expressing a fusion of two interacting transcription factors, GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR4 (GRF4) and GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR1 (GIF1), improved regeneration in wheat (Triticum aestivum). By overexpressing a chimeric fusion of ClGRF4 and ClGIF1, we achieved highly efficient transformation in watermelon. Mutating the mi396 microRNA target site in ClGRF further boosted the transformation efficiency up to 67.27% in a genotype-independent manner. ClGRF4-GIF1 can also be combined with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing tools to achieve highly efficient gene editing in watermelon, which we used to successfully create diploid seedless watermelon. This research thus puts forward a powerful transformation tool for future watermelon research and breeding.
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