b'RETAIL STRATEGYFROM GENE-EDITED WHEAT TO INTELLIGENT BREEDINGCanola and soybean might often steal the spotlight, but theres major genetic ground being broken in cereal crops, too.Marc ZienkiewiczAGRICULTURE and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) hit a mile-stone this year with the plant-ing of its first gene-edited wheat. Gene editing is an exciting, emerging technology with a lot of potential, and its use in wheat is no longer just speculative. The age of gene-edited cereals crops is here.One of the key advan-tages of gene editing over traditional GM technologies is the precision and accuracy it offers. Were editing whats already in the genome with a high level of control and min- As the world needs more resilient and productive wheat varieties, scientists are using strategic gene imal off-target mutations,pyramiding and sophisticated technology to understand the phenotypic dynamics of winter wheat (such as says Franois Eudes, directorwinter dormancy and spring growth patterns).of research, development and technology at AAFC and leadDevelopment Centre.More field seasons will berespond to these environmen-of the departments portfolioOne of the most sig- needed to fully analyze thesetal cues.on breeding innovations andnificant hurdles in wheatlines, especially since someJohn and Andrs work crop germplasm development.gene editing stems from itsare still segregating due to theon climate adaptation and Its fascinating that artifi- hexaploid nature, meaningmultiple copies of targeteddrought tolerance is a great cial intelligence is even beingit contains six copies of itsgenes, Eudes says, highlight- example of how this technol-used to improve the efficacygenes.ing the complexity of theogy can be applied, Eudes of gene editing technology,For this project, John andwork. adds. This approach not only further reducing the risk ofAndr used CRISPR-Cas9 toSustainability is a coreaims to improve resilience off-target effects. target specific genes, whichfocus for Eudes and AAFCbut also to expand the genetic AAFC scientists are notrequired mastering everythingscientists, particularly in thediversity of domesticated only exploring these technolo- from delivering the technol- face of abiotic stressors likecrops. gies but are actively integrat- ogy into cells to regenerat- drought and heat.With gene editing, we ing them into their breedinging plants and conductingIn the Prairie region,could reintroduce some of programs to develop newdetailed evaluations, Eudeswere experiencing periods ofthat diversity into elite genetic traits that can withstand thenotes.limited water availability andmaterial, creating new traits rigours of climate change. The team observed pheno- sudden heat stress. For cooland expanding the crops Recently, AAFC scien- typic differences such as flow- season crops like wheat, this isadaptability to temperature tists John Laurie and Andrering time and plant height,a significant challenge, Eudesfluctuations and water scar-Laroche conducted their firstbut the real test came in theexplains. Gene editing hascity.field trial with a gene-editedfield, where these traits couldthe potential to be a game- As Eudes reflects on the wheat line at the AAFCbe evaluated under real-worldchanger by targeting specificfuture of gene editing in Lethbridge Research andconditions. genes that regulate how plantswheat, he emphasizes its pre-42 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA NOVEMBER 2024'