Trans-grafting revolution: From molecular regulation mechanisms to biotech applications.
Angelis P, Capriotti L, Jin H, Sabbadini S, Mezzetti B
Grafting Biotech
The tomatoes, apples, and cucumbers at your grocery store could soon be tougher against disease and drought purely by swapping in a smarter root system — no genetic modification of the edible part required.
When farmers graft a fruit-bearing plant onto a different root system, tiny molecular messages actually travel up from the roots into the fruit-bearing part of the plant. Scientists have now mapped how these messages — including small molecules that switch genes on and off — can make the top part of the plant fight off diseases and handle heat or drought better. By engineering only the root part to send helpful signals, breeders can boost a plant's resilience without touching the genes of the fruit-producing shoot, which sidesteps many regulatory and public-acceptance hurdles.
Key Findings
mRNAs, small RNAs, proteins, and peptides physically cross the graft junction through the phloem, enabling direct molecular communication between rootstock and scion.
Small RNAs and regulatory peptides are the key stress-resistance messengers, activating systemic defence responses in the scion by modulating its gene expression.
CRISPR-Cas9-engineered rootstocks successfully deliver protective mobile molecules to unmodified scions, enhancing tolerance to pathogens, pests, and abiotic stresses without altering the scion genome.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Grafting — joining one plant's shoot onto another's root system — turns out to be a two-way molecular conversation. This review shows how engineering only the rootstock can make the fruit-bearing top of the plant more resistant to disease and climate stress, without altering its own DNA.
Abstract Preview
Grafting is a routine method widely used for the vegetative propagation of fruit trees and several vegetable crops. The selection of a compatible rootstock is essential, as it strongly influences s...
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