This project matches a partnership research grant. The ultimate goal is to find cost-effective and sustainable solutions to soybean threats. Recent advancements in the CRISPR-Cas-based genome editing make it possible to tackle these challenges using biotechnological approaches. However, adoption of CRISPR-Cas in soybean is hindered by several roadblocks, including recalcitrance of soybean to transformation, and difficulty to achieve precise gene integration. To address these obstacles, this research pursues the objectives of accelerating soybean gene editing by administering guide RNAs using viruses and adopting Cpf1, a more versatile Cas9 analogue, for gene integration in soybean.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies