De novo domestication of wild tomato using genome editing

Breeding of crops over millennia for yield and productivity1 has led to reduced genetic diversity. As a result, beneficial traits of wild species, such as disease resistance and stress tolerance, have been lost2. We devised a CRISPR–Cas9 genome engineering strategy to combine agronomically desirable traits with useful traits present in wild lines. We report that editing of six loci that are important for yield and productivity in present-day tomato crop lines enabled de novo domestication of wild Solanum pimpinellifolium. Engineered S. pimpinellifolium morphology was altered, together with the size, number and nutritional value of the fruits. Compared with the wild parent, our engineered lines have a threefold increase in fruit size and a tenfold increase in fruit number. Notably, fruit lycopene accumulation is improved by 500% compared with the widely cultivated S. lycopersicum. Our results pave the way for molecular breeding programs to exploit the genetic diversity present in wild plants

Compreensão dos fatores hormonais e temporais associados à aquisição de competência em tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom): conceitos-chave para a regeneração in vitro de gemas caulinares

Plant regeneration through de novo organogenesis is a critical step in most of the plant micropropagation and genetic transformation procedures. In the last years, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying de novo organogenesis in the worldwide crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). However, the hormonal and molecular factors involving the acquisition of competence for tomato shoot formation, an essential step for the regeneration process, are still not known. The failure in acquire competence can be the reason for the widely described absence of shoot regeneration from tomato root explants. In the first chapter, we conducted a temporal and hormonal characterization of the tomato acquisition of competence and the shoot induction phases using the model system cv. Micro-Tom. Regeneration was improved by pre-incubation on root-inducing medium (RIM) during the early two days in culture, a period corresponding to acquisition of competence step in cotyledon explants. Conversely, the pre-incubation on another auxin-rich condition, the callus-inducing medium (CIM), under the same period, abolished the regeneration achievement. The 2d RIM pre-treatment induced an extensive and intense endogenous auxin response in the explant, probably improving the cells competence to produce shoots under further cytokinin induction on shoot-inducing medium (SIM). This knowledge was applied to improve the Agrobacterium-mediated tomato genetic transformation procedure, leading to an efficient, simple, inexpensive and genotype-independent protocol. In the second chapter, we developed an unprecedented method for tomato shoot regeneration from root explants. The shoot organogenesis was obtained by adjusting the CIM pre-treatment to the acquisition of competence period, corresponding to the initial four days in culture for root explants. The number and quality of shoots formed were also augmented by the optimization of explants properties, medium components, and culture conditions. Taken the two chapters together, the knowledge obtained about organogenic competence advanced and created new regeneration and genetic transformation systems, which are very useful tools for biotechnology and functional studies of specific genes in tomato.A regeneração de plantas através da organogênese de novo é uma fase crítica para a maioria dos procedimentos de micropropagação e transformação genética. Recentemente, progressos significativos tem sido alcançados no entendimento dos mecanismos fundamentais à organogênese de novo de tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum). Entretanto, fatores hormonais e moleculares envolvidos na aquisição de competência para formação de gemas caulinares na espécie, etapa essencial ao processo de regeneração, permancece desconhecido. O fracasso em adquirir competência pode ser associado a amplamente descrita incapacidade de tomateiro em regenerar brotos caulinares a partir de raízes. No primeiro capítulo, realizou-se uma caracterização temporal e hormonal das fases de aquisição de competência e indução de gemas caulinares usando a cultivar modelo Micro-Tom. A eficiência de regeneração foi melhorada através de pré-incubação em meio indutor de raízes (RIM) durante os dois primeiros dias de cultivo, período correspondente à fase de aquisição de competência em explantes cotiledonares. Diferentemente, a pré-incubação em outro meio rico em auxina, o meio indutor de calo (CIM), sob mesmo intervalo, aboliu completamente a regeneração. A pré-incubação de dois dias em RIM induziu uma intensa e extensa resposta a auxina endógena no explante, o que provavelmente aumentou a competência das células a induzir brotos caulinares em resposta a citocinina presente no meio indutor de gemas caulinares (SIM). A aplicação desse conhecimento na melhoria do procedimento de transformação genética via Agrobacteria levou a um eficiente, simples, barato e genótipo-independente protocolo. No segundo capítulo, nós desenvolvemos um método inédito de regeneração de tomateiro via explante radicular. A formação de brotos caulinares foi obtida por ajuste do pré-tratamento em CIM ao período de aquisição de competência, correspondente a quatro dias de cultivo em explantes radiculares. O número e qualidade dos brotos também foram elevados pela otimização do explante, composição do meio de cultivo, e condições de cultivo. Somando-se os dois capítulos, o conhecimento obtido a cerca da competência organogênica resultou em novos sistemas de regeneração e transformação genética, ferramentas importantes para processos biotecnológicos e estudos funcionais de genes específicos em tomateiro

Influence of in vitro and ex vitro culture conditions on the growth and secundary metabolite accumulation in diploid and tetraploid plants of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

Pfaffia glomerata (Amaranthaceae), conhecida como ginseng brasileiro, é uma importante espécie medicinal nativa do Brasil. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da ploidia das plantas e das condições de cultivo in vitro e ex vitro no crescimento e produção de metabólitos secundários em P. glomerata. Nesse trabalho foram utilizados explantes diploides e tetraploides induzidos artificialmente por uso de colchicina. Nas condições in vitro foram avaliados os efeitos da poliploidização, da adição de sacarose ao meio de cultura e da concentração atmosférica de CO2 nos parâmetros de crescimento e acúmulo de 20E em P. glomerata. Enquanto nas condições ex vitro analisou- se o crescimento, acúmulo de pigmentos, densidade estomática, teores de 20E e saponinas triterpênicas em função da ploidia da planta, volume de vaso e tratamento com paclobutrazol (PBZ). Todos os parâmetros de crescimento avaliados e o acúmulo de metabólitos secundários foram reprimidos em plantas tetraploides comparadas às diploides em condições de cultivo in vitro e ex vitro. Foram observadas nos indivíduos tetraploides características específicas de poliploidia, como redução da densidade estomática e aumento da relação largura/comprimento foliar. Em condições in vitro, a presença de sacarose no meio de cultura promoveu melhor crescimento, porém inibiu o acúmulo de 20E. Assim, a fotoautotrofia mostra-se mais favorável por apresentar potencial na produção comercial massal de mudas dessa espécie com altos teores de 20E. O enriquecimento de CO2 (1.000 μmol/mol de CO2) também induziu a produção de plantas com maiores biomassa e acúmulo de 20E, favoráveis ao interesse comercial. Após aclimatização, plantas de P. glomerata apresentaram forte indução nos parâmetros de crescimento quando crescidas em vasos de maior volume, enquanto a aplicação de PBZ não interferiu na produção de biomassa e metabólitos secundários. Dessa forma, a utilização de vasos de maior volume é um importante fator na produção em escala comercial de ginseng brasileiro.Pfaffia glomerata (Amaranthaceae), known as Brazilian ginseng, is an important medicinal species native to Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the ploidy level and in vitro and ex vitro culture conditions on the growth and secondary metabolite production in P. glomerata. Explants of diploids and tetraploids artificially induced by colchicine explants were used. Under in vitro conditions, we evaluated the effects of polyploidization, supplementation of sucrose to the culture medium and atmospheric CO 2 concentration on growth parameters and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) accumulation of P. glomerata nodal explants. Following transfer to ex vitro conditions, growth, pigment content, stomatal density, levels of 20E and saponins were analyzed according to the plant ploidy, vessel volume and treatment with paclobutrazol (PBZ). All growth characteristics and accumulation of secondary metabolites were inhibited in tetraploid background compared with diploids, both under in vitro and ex vitro conditions. Specific characteristics of polyploidy, such as reduced stomatal density and increased width/length ratio of leaves were found in tetraploid individuals. Under in vitro conditions, the presence of sucrose in the culture medium promoted better growth, but inhibited 20E accumulation. Thus, the photoautotrophy seems to be more favorable because shows potencial commercial mass production of seedlings of this species with high levels of 20E. CO2 enrichment also induced plant production with higher biomass and 20E accumulation, favorable for commercial purposes. After acclimatization, P. glomerata showed significant increase in growth parameters when it was grown in higher-volume pots, while the PBZ application did not affect the biomass and secondary metabolite production. Thereby, the use of larger pots is an important factor in commercial-scale production of Brazilian ginseng.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológic

De novo domestication of wild tomato using genome editing

Breeding of crops over millennia for yield and productivity1 has led to reduced genetic diversity. As a result, beneficial traits of wild species, such as disease resistance and stress tolerance, have been lost2. We devised a CRISPR–Cas9 genome engineering strategy to combine agronomically desirable traits with useful traits present in wild lines. We report that editing of six loci that are important for yield and productivity in present-day tomato crop lines enabled de novo domestication of wild Solanum pimpinellifolium. Engineered S. pimpinellifolium morphology was altered, together with the size, number and nutritional value of the fruits. Compared with the wild parent, our engineered lines have a threefold increase in fruit size and a tenfold increase in fruit number. Notably, fruit lycopene accumulation is improved by 500% compared with the widely cultivated S. lycopersicum. Our results pave the way for molecular breeding programs to exploit the genetic diversity present in wild plants

Karyotype, genome size, and in vitro chromosome doubling of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, known worldwide as Brazilian ginseng, has an important commercial value due to its pharmaceutical properties. In addition to the newly described karyological traits and the first estimation of DNA content, this study reports a protocol for the successful induction of tetraploidy. Natural diploid individuals (2n = 34) showed a symmetric karyotype, centromeric DAPI+ bands, one chromosome pair with a CMA+ band and 45S rDNA site and another with one 5S rDNA site. To induce chromosome duplication, small nodal buds were cultured in semi-solid MS-based medium with 2.22 μM BA, 2.69 μM NAA, and colchicine or oryzalin at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 μM for 1 or 2 weeks before being transferred to MS basal medium. The results showed that colchicine induced tetraploid plants, mainly after 1 week of exposure, whereas oryzalin treatment induced only mixoploid plants. The tetraploid plants exhibited twice the chromosome number and DNA content and twice the number of chromosome markers observed for the diploids. Chromosome duplication reduced the dry mass of the stems and roots of the polyploid plants compared to the diploids, and the stomatal density was also reduced on the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of the polyploids. Additionally, the production of β-ecdysone was 50 % higher in the tetraploids than in the diploids. Thus, chromosome doubling showed that is possible to increase the content of β-ecdysone, highlighting the considerable potential of this technique to produce new cultivars with high commercial value

Induced polyploidization increases 20-hydroxyecdysone content, in vitro photoautotrophic growth, and ex vitro biomass accumulation in Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen

The present study aimed to verify the effects of induced polyploidization on Pfaffia glomerata regarding its 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) production both in vitro and under greenhouse conditions, its in vitro photoautotrophic potential, and its ex vitro biomass accumulation and photosynthetic performance. Synthetic polyploidization efficiently produced individuals with increased in vitro photoautotrophic potential and ex vitro biomass accumulation, although photosynthetic rates per leaf area did not vary between diploids and tetraploids. Among the five tetraploids tested (P28, P60, P68, P74, and P75), P28 showed significantly increased biomass both in vitro and ex vitro when compared with diploid plants, whereas the other tetraploids did not differ significantly from the diploids in terms of biomass accumulation. Although photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area remained constant among all the plants tested, P28 showed a significantly greater total leaf area, which may have resulted in an increase in net photosynthesis on a whole-plant basis. Under greenhouse conditions, the 20E content in the tetraploid P28 was 31% higher than that in diploid plants, and the final 20E mass per plant produced by P28 ex vitro was approximately twice that produced by diploid plants. Accumulation of 20E in vitro did not follow the same pattern observed among the plants ex vitro; instead, greater accumulation was observed in diploid plants. The induction of polyploidy in P. glomerata appears to be a promising strategy for producing plants with higher biomass accumulation and 20E production ex vitro, in addition to its higher in vitro photoautotrophic potential