CRISPR shortcut could cut decades from chromosome design in poplars, UGA study shows
In Georgia, improving a tree through traditional breeding can take decades. Aspen and poplar, for example, mature slowly, and every round of crossbreeding means years of waiting before researchers can evaluate the outcome and decide on the next step. University of Georgia researchers have developed a CRISPR-based approach that can create large-scale chromosome rearrangements in a single generation, dramatically shortening the time needed to test new chromosome designs in poplar.
The approach could speed up breeding for a tree commonly used in the production of paper, biofuel, and biomaterials, as well as serve as a model for other important tree species.
Category: Research
