In a study published in Nature Communications titled “Construction of multi-targeted CRISPR libraries in tomato to overcome functional redundancy at genome-scale level,” researchers from Tel Aviv University have developed a genetic editing method tailored to crop plants to influence various traits in tomato plants, including the taste and shape of the fruit. 

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Genetic variance is vital for breeding programs and mutant screening, yet traditional mutagenesis methods lack specificity in gene targeting. CRISPR-Cas9 offers precise, site-specific gene editing, but its application in crop improvement has been restricted by scalability challenges, which limit the number of genes that can be edited and studied. 

The study designed 15,804 unique sgRNAs, each targeting multiple genes within the same gene families. The authors then generated approximately 1,300 independent CRISPR lines and successfully identified mutants with distinct phenotypes related to fruit development, fruit flavor, nutrient uptake, and pathogen response. 

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The authors stated that follow-up studies will develop additional selected traits in tomato and rice. 

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