Plant Breeding and Genetics | Open Access Articles

Enhancing Tomato Fruit Quality: Application Of Crispr/Dcas9-Mediated Methylation On The Pg Gene Promoter Region, Irena Komninakas Jan 2023

Enhancing Tomato Fruit Quality: Application Of Crispr/Dcas9-Mediated Methylation On The Pg Gene Promoter Region, Irena Komninakas

Holster Scholar Projects

Commercially produced tomatoes are typically harvested well before maturation in order to withstand domestic and international distribution. While this process ensures unspoiled goods, the nutritional value of the fruits have been curtailed as a result of premature harvesting. Previous research has found that the polygalacturonase gene (PG gene) is responsible for cell wall degradation of the tomato. In this study, CRISPR/dCas9 technology was employed to increase methylation levels in the promoter regions of the PG gene. This method is significant in that it epigenetically modifies the tomato genome using a technique that has the potential to develop non-genetically modified progeny …

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An Analysis Of Crispr-Cas Gene Editing In Agriculture, Ashley Laliberte Apr 2020

An Analysis Of Crispr-Cas Gene Editing In Agriculture, Ashley Laliberte

Honors Scholar Theses

The CRISPR-Cas system is a promising form of gene editing, especially for the agriculture industry. The ability to make single-nucleotide edits within a gene of interest, without the need to introduce foreign DNA, is a powerful tool for designing healthier and more efficient crops and food animals. This system provides opportunity for increased nutritional value, decreased food waste, and more economically and environmentally sustainable food production. Though this biotechnology is facing mechanistic limitations due to off-target effects and inefficient homology-directed repair, vast improvements have already been made to improve its efficacy. The CRISPR-Cas system is already the most advanced form …

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Reducing Pollen Dispersal Using Forest Windbreaks, Carol Auer, Thomas Meyer, Vernie Sagun Jul 2016

Reducing Pollen Dispersal Using Forest Windbreaks, Carol Auer, Thomas Meyer, Vernie Sagun

Plant Science Articles

The adoption of genetically engineered (GE) crops has created a demand for practical methods to mitigate pollen dispersal and gene flow. The goal of this project was to measure the ability of a narrow forest windbreak to reduce downwind pollen fluxes from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a North American grass and model biofuels feedstock. Switchgrass fields were established in two identical plots where one had a forest windbreak and the other was in an open (control) site. Switchgrass reproduction, pollen dispersal, wind speed, and wind direction were measured over two years. Daily release of switchgrass pollen peaked at 11:00-13:30 …

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Aronia Mitschurinii: Solving A Horticultural Enigma, Peter J. Leonard Aug 2011

Aronia Mitschurinii: Solving A Horticultural Enigma, Peter J. Leonard

Master's Theses

Aronia (Medik.), commonly known as chokeberry, is a taxonomically misunderstood genus currently experiencing a renaissance in North America as both an ornamental and fruit crop. Three species of chokeberry are commonly accepted as native in North America: A. arbutifolia (L.) Pers. red chokeberry; A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot, black chokeberry; and A. prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, or purple chokeberry. In Europe a fourth species of human origin is recognized as Aronia mitschurinii (A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul.), or cultivated, black-fruited Aronia. It is widely speculated that this genotype originated in the early 20^th century with Russian pomologist Ivan Michurin, as the product …