Superior field performance of waxy corn engineered using CRISPR-Cas9.
Huirong GaoMark J GadlageH Renee LafitteBrian LendertsMeizhu YangMegan SchroderJeffry FarrellKay SnopekDave PetersonLanie FeigenbutzSpencer JonesGrace St ClairMelissa RaheNathalie Sanyour-DoyelChenna PengLijuan WangJoshua K YoungMary BeattyBrian DahlkeJan HazebroekThomas W GreeneA Mark CiganN Doane ChilcoatRobert B MeeleyPublished in: Nature biotechnology (2020)
We created waxy corn hybrids by CRISPR-Cas9 editing of a waxy allele in 12 elite inbred maize lines, a process that was more than a year faster than conventional trait introgression using backcrossing and marker-assisted selection. Field trials at 25 locations showed that CRISPR-waxy hybrids were agronomically superior to introgressed hybrids, producing on average 5.5 bushels per acre higher yield.