CRISPR/Cas9-Targeted Mutagenesis of CiGAS and CiGAO to Reduce Bitterness in Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.).
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
; 28(9): 201, 2023 Sep 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37796686
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), a member of the Asteraceae family, is known for its numerous health benefits, including its prebiotic, digestive, antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effects. Used as a coffee substitute, chicory roots is also appreciated for its bitterness, which can prove to be a disadvantage for other uses in food. The bitterness of chicory is largely linked to the presence of sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) in the roots.METHODS:
In order to create less bitter industrial chicory varieties, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to inhibit the first two genes of the STL biosynthetic pathway germacrene A synthase (CiGAS), short form, and germacrene A oxidase (CiGAO). To determine the impact of these reductions on the perception of bitterness, a sensory analysis of 13 field-grown chicories genotypes, contrasting for their STL composition, allowed the construction of obtain a bitterness scale by correlating STL content with perceived bitterness. The edited chicories were positioned on this scale according to their STL content.RESULTS:
Biallelic mutations in two of the copies of CiGAS-short form or in the CiGAO gene led to a reduction in STL content of edited chicories and a reduction in bitterness, or even an absence of perception, was obtained for some mutants.CONCLUSIONS:
The use of the CRISPR/Cas9 tool as well as the choice of targets therefore makes it possible to modulate the bitterness of chicory.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Cichorium intybus
Language:
En
Journal:
Front Biosci (Landmark Ed)
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France