CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted T-DNA integration in rice.

KEY MESSAGE: Combining with a CRISPR/Cas9 system, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation can lead to precise targeted T-DNA integration in the rice genome. Agrobacterium-mediated T-DNA integration into the plant genomes is random, which often causes variable transgene expression and insertional mutagenesis. Because T-DNA preferentially integrates into double-strand DNA breaks, we adapted a CRISPR/Cas9 system to demonstrate that targeted T-DNA integration can be achieved in the rice genome. Using a standard Agrobacterium binary vector, we constructed a T-DNA that contains a CRISPR/Cas9 system using SpCas9 and a gRNA targeting the exon of the rice AP2 domain-containing protein gene Os01g04020. The T-DNA also carried a red fluorescent protein and a hygromycin resistance (hptII) gene. One version of the vector had hptII expression driven by an OsAct2 promoter. In an effort to detect targeted T-DNA insertion events, we built another T-DNA with a promoterless hptII gene adjacent to the T-DNA right border such that integration of T-DNA into the targeted exon sequence in-frame with the hptII gene would allow hptII expression. Our results showed that these constructs could produce targeted T-DNA insertions with frequencies ranging between 4 and 5.3% of transgenic callus events, in addition to generating a high frequency (50-80%) of targeted indel mutations. Sequencing analyses showed that four out of five sequenced T-DNA/gDNA junctions carry a single copy of full-length T-DNA at the target site. Our results indicate that Agrobacterium-mediated transformation combined with a CRISPR/Cas9 system can efficiently generate targeted T-DNA insertions.

An Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 system for high-frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool in many organisms, including a number of monocots and dicots. Although the design and application of CRISPR/Cas9 is simpler compared to other nuclease-based genome editing tools, optimization requires the consideration of the DNA delivery and tissue regeneration methods for a particular species to achieve accuracy and efficiency. Here, we describe a public sector system, ISU Maize CRISPR, utilizing Agrobacterium-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 for high-frequency targeted mutagenesis in maize. This system consists of an Escherichia coli cloning vector and an Agrobacterium binary vector. It can be used to clone up to four guide RNAs for single or multiplex gene targeting. We evaluated this system for its mutagenesis frequency and heritability using four maize genes in two duplicated pairs: Argonaute 18 (ZmAgo18a and ZmAgo18b) and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase or anthocyaninless genes (a1 and a4). T0 transgenic events carrying mono- or diallelic mutations of one locus and various combinations of allelic mutations of two loci occurred at rates over 70% mutants per transgenic events in both Hi-II and B104 genotypes. Through genetic segregation, null segregants carrying only the desired mutant alleles without the CRISPR transgene could be generated in T1 progeny. Inheritance of an active CRISPR/Cas9 transgene leads to additional target-specific mutations in subsequent generations. Duplex infection of immature embryos by mixing two individual Agrobacterium strains harbouring different Cas9/gRNA modules can be performed for improved cost efficiency. Together, the findings demonstrate that the ISU Maize CRISPR platform is an effective and robust tool to targeted mutagenesis in maize.

Heritable site-specific mutagenesis using TALENs in maize.

Transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) technology has been utilized widely for targeted gene mutagenesis, especially for gene inactivation, in many organisms, including agriculturally important plants such as rice, wheat, tomato and barley. This report describes application of this technology to generate heritable genome modifications in maize. TALENs were employed to generate stable, heritable mutations at the maize glossy2 (gl2) locus. Transgenic lines containing mono- or di-allelic mutations were obtained from the maize genotype Hi-II at a frequency of about 10% (nine mutated events in 91 transgenic events). In addition, three of the novel alleles were tested for function in progeny seedlings, where they were able to confer the glossy phenotype. In a majority of the events, the integrated TALEN T-DNA segregated independently from the new loss of function alleles, producing mutated null-segregant progeny in T1 generation. Our results demonstrate that TALENs are an effective tool for genome mutagenesis in maize, empowering the discovery of gene function and the development of trait improvement.

Rice, Japonica (Oryza sativa L.).

The importance of rice, as a food crop, is reflected in the extensive global research being conducted in an effort to improve and better understand this particular agronomic plant. In regard to biotechnology, this has led to the development of numerous genetic transformation protocols. Over the years, many of these methods have become increasingly straightforward, rapid, and efficient, thereby making rice valuable as a model crop for scientific research and functional genomics. The focus of this chapter is on one such protocol that uses Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica cv. Nipponbare with an emphasis on tissue desiccation. The explants consist of callus derived from mature seeds which are cocultivated on filter paper postinfection. Hygromycin selection is used for the recovery of subsequent genetically engineered events.

Maize (Zea mays L.).

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is an effective method for introducing genes into maize. In this chapter, we describe a detailed protocol for genetic transformation of the maize genotype Hi II. Our starting plant material is immature embryos cocultivated with an Agrobacterium strain carrying a standard binary vector. In addition to step-by-step laboratory transformation procedures, we include extensive details in growing donor plants and caring for transgenic plants in the greenhouse.

Genetic transformation using maize immature zygotic embryos.

Epidermal and subepidermal cells in the abaxial, basal region of the maize (Zea mays L.) immature zygotic embryo (IZE) scutellum can be induced by exogenous auxin to proliferate and undergo somatic embryogenesis. Successful genetic transformation of IZEs depends not only on optimizing transformation parameters for these totipotent cells, but also on achieving high embryogenic callus induction frequency (ECIF) in a population of targeted explants. In maize, ECIF is strongly influenced by genotype, the tissue culture media used, and the interaction of these two factors. Altering tissue culture media components to increase ECIF and/or transformation frequency (TF) has been one approach used to expand the range of maize genotypes amenable to genetic transformation using the IZE. This chapter outlines such an approach--an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol is used for direct-targeting IZEs of the hybrid Hi Type II and inbred B104 lines. Two different media regimes are used for successful culture and transformation of two distinct genotypes.

Improved Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of three maize inbred lines using MS salts.

Transformation technology as a research or breeding tool to improve maize is routinely used in most industrial and some specialized public laboratories. However, transformation of many inbred lines remains a challenging task, especially when using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as the delivery method. Here we report success in generating transgenic plants and progeny from three maize inbred lines using an Agrobacterium-mediated standard binary vector system to target maize immature embryos. Eleven maize inbred lines were pre-screened for transformation frequency using N6 salts. A subset of three maize inbred lines was then systematically evaluated for frequency of post-infection embryogenic callus induction and transformation on four media regimes: N6 or MS salts in each of two distinct media backgrounds. Transgenic plants recovered from inbred lines B104, B114, and Ky21 were analyzed for transgene integration, expression, and transmission. Average transformation frequencies of 6.4% (for B104), 2.8% (for B114), and 8% (for Ky21) were achieved using MS salts. Availability of Agrobacterium-mediated maize inbred line transformation will improve future opportunities for maize genetic and functional genomic studies.