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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 A DNA-free editing approach to help viticulture sustainability: dual editing of DMR6-1 and DMR6-2 enhances resistance to downy mildew 

A DNA-free editing approach to help viticulture sustainability: dual editing of DMR6-1 and DMR6-2 enhances resistance to downy mildew 

Abstract

The sustainability of viticulture hinges on maintaining quality and yield while reducing pesticide use. Promising strides in this direction involve the development of clones with enhanced disease tolerance, particularly through the knockout of plant susceptibility genes. Knocking out of Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6) led to increased levels of endogenous salicylic acid (SA), a regulator of immunity, resulting in enhanced tolerance to Downy Mildew (DM) and other diseases in various crops.

Mutations in both DMR6-1 and DMR6-2 genes were introduced into two grapevine cultivars using CRISPR-Cas9 using two methods. In the first case, transgene delivery mediated by A. tumefaciens was employed, while in the second case, we developed a ‘single-cell technology’ for gene editing, creating non-transgenic grapevine mutants through the regeneration of protoplasts previously edited with the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein.

We tested the susceptibility of single and double mutants to DM through artificial inoculation assays on detached leaves and whole plants. Our findings indicate that a simultaneous mutation in both DMR6-1 and DMR6-2 is needed to significantly enhance resistance to DM, with the double mutant (dmr6-1-dmr6-2) outperforming either single mutant in both cultivars. Elevated levels of endogenous SA were only observed in the double mutant, while single mutation in DMR6-1 or DMR6-2 proved ineffective. Collectively, our data highlight the need for a double knockout to achieve appreciable results against DM-susceptibility.

Currenlty, we are adapting the ‘single-cell technology’ to generate edited vines from various agronomically relevant cultivars. In parallel, we are assessing the performance of plants edited in different susceptibility genes.

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DOI:

Publication date: June 13, 2024

Issue: Open GPB 2024

Type: Poster

Authors

Lisa Giacomelli1*, Tieme Zeilmaker2, Oscar Giovannini1, Umberto Salvagnin3, Domenico Masuero1, Pietro Franceschi1, Urska Vrohvsek1, Simone Scintilla4, Jeroen Rouppe van der Voort2, Claudio Moser1

1 Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
2 Enza ZadenEnza Zaden Research & Development B.V., Enkhuizen, The Netherlands  
3 C.I.VIT. Consorzio Innovazione Vite, Trento, Italy
4 Hudson River Biotechnology, Wageningen, The Netherlands

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Keywords

DMR6, grapevine, DNA-free, gene editing, downy mildew, susceptibility gene

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Open GPB | Open GPB 2024

Citation

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