AUTHOR=Jayakody Thilani B. , Zarka Daniel , Cho Keun Ho , Jensen Jacob , Sikora Samantha , Buell C. Robin , Douches David S. , Nadakuduti Satya Swathi 

TITLE=Genome-wide evaluation of gene editing outcomes using CRISPR/Cas9 in seed propagated Camelina sativa and vegetatively propagated Solanum tuberosum

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1496861

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1496861

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>CRISPR/Cas9 is the most popular genome editing platform for investigating gene function or improving traits in plants. The specificity of gene editing has yet to be evaluated at a genome-wide scale in seed-propagated <italic>Camelina sativa</italic> (L.) Crantz (camelina) or clonally propagated <italic>Solanum tuberosum</italic> L. (potato). In this study, seven potato and nine camelina stable transgenic Cas9-edited plants were evaluated for on and off-target editing outcomes using 55x and 60x coverage whole genome shotgun sequencing data, respectively. For both potato and camelina, a prevalence of mosaic somatic edits from constitutive Cas9 expression was discovered as well as evidence of transgenerational editing in camelina. CRISPR/Cas9 editing provided negligible off-target activity compared to background variation in both species. The results from this study guide deployment and risk assessment of genome editing in commercially relevant traits in food crops.</p>