Open AccessCRISPR /Cas9‐mediated knockout of Ms1 enables the rapid generation of male‐sterile hexaploid wheat lines for use in hybrid seed production
Author(s) -
Okada Anzu,
Arndell Taj,
Borisjuk Nikolai,
Sharma Niharika,
WatsonHaigh Nathan S.,
Tucker Elise J.,
Baumann Ute,
Langridge Peter,
Whitford Ryan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.13106
Subject(s) - biology , crispr , outcrossing , hybrid seed , sterility , heterosis , cas9 , cultivar , microbiology and biotechnology , emasculation , genome editing , hybrid , genetics , gene , agronomy , botany , pollen , pollination
Summary The development and adoption of hybrid seed technology have led to dramatic increases in agricultural productivity. However, it has been a challenge to develop a commercially viable platform for the production of hybrid wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) seed due to wheat's strong inbreeding habit. Recently, a novel platform for commercial hybrid seed production was described. This hybridization platform utilizes nuclear male sterility to force outcrossing and has been applied to maize and rice. With the recent molecular identification of the wheat male fertility gene Ms1 , it is now possible to extend the use of this novel hybridization platform to wheat. In this report, we used the CRISPR /Cas9 system to generate heritable, targeted mutations in Ms1 . The introduction of biallelic frameshift mutations into Ms1 resulted in complete male sterility in wheat cultivars Fielder and Gladius, and several of the selected male‐sterile lines were potentially non‐transgenic. Our study demonstrates the utility of the CRISPR /Cas9 system for the rapid generation of male sterility in commercial wheat cultivars. This represents an important step towards capturing heterosis to improve wheat yields, through the production and use of hybrid seed on an industrial scale.