CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of MYB134 and MYB115 in transgenic poplar leads to differential reduction of proanthocyanidin synthesis in roots and leaves.

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are common specialized metabolites and particularly abundant in trees and woody plants. In poplar (Populus spp.), PA biosynthesis is stress-induced and regulated by two previously studied transcription factors MYB115 and MYB134. To determine the relative contribution of these regulators to PA biosynthesis, we created single and double knockout mutants for both genes in transgenic poplars using CRISPR/Cas9. Knocking out either MYB134 or MYB115 showed reduced PA accumulation and down-regulated flavonoid genes in leaves, but MYB134 disruption had the greatest impact and reduced PAs to 30% of controls. In roots, by contrast, only the MYB134/MYB115 double knockouts showed a significant change in PA concentration. The loss of PAs paralleled the lower expression of PA biosynthesis genes, and concentrations of flavan-3-ol PA precursors catechin and epicatechin. Interestingly, salicinoids were also affected in double knock-outs, with distinct patterns in roots and shoots. We conclude that the regulatory pathways for PA biosynthesis differs in poplar leaves and roots. The residual PA content in the double-KO plants indicates that other transcription factors must also be involved in control of the PA pathway.