Title : Enhancing plant fungal resistance through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated integration of a bacterial antifungal gene
Abstract:
Gene editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, offer transformative change for development of plant resistance to fungal pathogens by integrating antifungal bacterial genes. This study investigates the application of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to introduce a bacterial antifungal gene, chitinase, into a model crop species, Arabidopsis thaliana. The chitinase gene and acid production gene can be derived from some of the bacterial species, encodes an enzyme that degrades chitin in fungal cell walls as well as producing the acid, thereby impairing fungal growth. Our approach involved the precise insertion of the chitinase & acid production gene into the plant genome using a dual-guide RNA strategy to ensure targeted and efficient integration. Phenotypic and molecular analyses of the edited plants will be accessed to check a significant reduction in disease symptoms compared to unedited controls. Quantitative PCR and enzyme assays confirmed successful expression of the inserted gene and its antifungal activity in plant. This research not only underscores the potential of gene editing for developing disease-resistant crops but also offers an invaluable insight into the practical application of bacterial antifungal genes for sustainable agricultural practices.
