UF Scientists May Have Found a Way to More Efficiently Apply Genome Editing to Plant Breeding (UF IFAS)

UF Scientists May Have Found a Way to More Efficiently Apply Genome Editing to Plant Breeding

New research led by a University of Florida scientist shows a development regulator can help plants grow. In the bigger picture, the study’s results also may help genome editing and as a result, plant breeding.

Development regulators are genes that regulate plant development and growth. UF/IFAS scientists have discovered that one such gene can help deliver DNA into a plant to promote shoot growth form either a stem of a whole plant or young leaves cultured in a petri dish.

Results from the study show that injection of a plant developmental regulator known as PLT5 into the stem helps some snapdragon and tomatoes grow into new shoots. In addition, scientists found that the PLT5 can help young leaves or petioles of cabbages grow into a whole plant after culturing them in the petri dish.

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