Russian researchers are the first in the world to successfully genetically edit triticale

Triticale is considered a relatively new grain crop, which man created a little over 100 years ago by crossing (hybridizing) wheat and rye. The research of Russian scientists was complex and unique, since the triticale genome consists of three subgenomes - two wheat subgenomes (AA, BB) and one rye subgenome (RR), which required the development of an editing system aimed at these three subgenomes at once. However, the scientists made the task even more complex and selected four target genes for editing (GBSSI, SSIIa, ISAI and RSR1), which are involved in the process of starch formation in the grain. As a result, mutations were obtained in all three subgenomes. The methodological approach used allows Russian researchers to edit individual and several genomic sequences, which will speed up the creation of new varieties. Changing the composition and quality of starch in triticale grains will expand the possibilities of using this crop ...