Revamping Chinese cabbage: CRISPR edits for healthier flavonoids
image: Phenotypic analyses of the brfls1 T2 plants. (A) Cross-sections of heads of two brfls1 T2 plants and controls (8045 and NB61–99). (B) Indices related to agricultural traits of their heads (C) Root lengths of seedlings of brfls1 T2 plants and control plants four (for control treatment) or six (for mannitol or NaCl treatment) days after osmolytes treatment. (D) Chlorophyll contents measured from aerial parts of the seedlings 4 days after mannitol treatment. The mean values ± SD of four independent biological samples are shown. Statistical significance was determined by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test using SAS (version 9.1) software. Significant differences between means (P < 0.05) are indicated by different lower case letters (a, b, and c).
Credit: Horticulture Research
Scientists have leveraged CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to enhance the nutritional properties of Chinese cabbage. By targeting the BrFLS1 gene, they engineered a variety with reduced flavonol content and increased levels of dihydroflavonols, compounds associated with enhanced health benefits and stress tolerance. This advancement paves the way for developing cabbage varieties with improved nutritional value, offering potential benefits in both health and agriculture.
Flavonoids, essential bioactive compounds in plants, play a crucial role in plant health and human nutrition. In Chinese cabbage, flavonols are the most prominent flavonoids, yet their biosynthesis and regulation remain incompletely understood. Previous studies in other Brassica species reveal the complexity of these pathways. Addressing these gaps, further investigation into the BrFLS1 gene is necessary to optimize the nutritional and agricultural traits of Chinese cabbage.
Published in Horticulture Research on November 14, 2023, this study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad239) from the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences in South Korea utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out the BrFLS1 gene in Chinese cabbage. Responsible for flavonol biosynthesis, this gene was targeted to explore its role in regulating key metabolic processes. The successful development of transgene-free, homozygous plants demonstrates a new approach in metabolic engineering to create crop varieties with enhanced traits.
The study zeroes in on BrFLS1, a critical gene in the Brassica rapa genome responsible for flavonol synthesis. Through CRISPR/Cas9, the gene was knocked out in a key variety of green Chinese cabbage. As a result, the plants exhibited a significant decrease in flavonol glycosides and a corresponding rise in dihydroflavonol glycosides, marking a notable shift in metabolic pathways. Advanced mass spectrometry and gene expression analyses confirmed these changes. Despite minor morphological differences, the knockout plants maintained normal growth patterns. However, the seedlings demonstrated increased sensitivity to osmotic stress, suggesting flavonols play a role in stress resilience during early development. These findings highlight the gene’s function and open up possibilities for breeding Chinese cabbage with altered flavonoid profiles, enhancing both its nutritional and commercial potential.
Dr. Beom-Gi Kim, the study’s lead researcher, commented, “Our work illustrates the transformative potential of CRISPR/Cas9 in crop breeding. By knocking out BrFLS1, we’ve successfully altered the metabolic profile of Chinese cabbage without compromising its agricultural characteristics. This research deepens our understanding of flavonoid biosynthesis and creates new opportunities for crops with improved stress resistance and unique nutritional advantages. We look forward to applying these findings to future agricultural innovations.”
The successful editing of BrFLS1 in Chinese cabbage opens new avenues for agricultural progress. By modifying flavonoid biosynthesis, it’s now possible to cultivate varieties with enhanced nutritional properties and greater resilience to environmental stresses. The accumulation of dihydroflavonols in these plants offers potential health benefits, given their known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This research lays the groundwork for future developments in functional foods and precision crop breeding, promoting the cultivation of more resilient and nutritionally enriched crops.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhad239
Funding information
This work was supported by the New Breeding Technologies Development Program [grant number PJ016545] of the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.
About Horticulture Research
Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.