Raspberry gains genetic edition without external DNA

Researchers from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom announced the first validated method for editing the raspberry genome without the introduction of external DNA, as reported by ChileBio on September 9, 2025. In a study published in Frontiers in Genome Editing, the team isolated individual cells of the fruit and applied CRISPR-Cas9 technology to make precise changes to the genome, establishing important foundations for accelerating the genetic improvement of raspberries in a safe and controlled manner. This innovation paves the way for the development of varieties that are more resistant to fungi, with greater firmness and extended shelf life, ensuring that the fruits reach consumers' homes in better condition and contributing significantly to the reduction of losses throughout the food chain. Additionally, the technology can be applied to enhance attributes such as sweetness, size, seed count, and even tolerance to heat waves, increasing the quality, productivity, and ...