Russian scientists double wheat grain yield through genome editing breakthrough

Researchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have edited the wheat genome using the CRISPR-Cas method, targeting the gene responsible for thermosensitive male sterility, according to the university’s website.

The experiment resulted in mutant lines with a modified spike structure, producing up to twice as many grains per spikelet. The development opens pathways for breeding new high-yield varieties without increasing cultivated areas.

The study focused on a gene analogous to one found in rice, which regulates thermosensitive male sterility. Due to wheat’s complex hexaploid genome (containing three sets of chromosomes), scientists generated a diverse collection of plants with multiple mutations. Alongside the intended thermosensitive traits, researchers identified an additional significant outcome: certain mutant lines exhibited altered spike architecture, contributing to enhanced grain production.

Professor Elena Potokina, Head of the agrotechnologies direction at the Skoltech Biomed Technologies Centre, the principal investigator of the project, highlighted the diversity of results. She noted that some experimental forms already demonstrate increased grain numbers, with up to six grains per spikelet compared to the usual two to four, describing the findings as a major scientific achievement.

The team employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology in combination with biolistic transformation and tissue culture techniques to modify the TGMS5 gene. The resulting plants are expected to display temperature-dependent fertility: remaining fertile below 22°C and functioning as female forms above 28°C, thereby enabling controlled cross-pollination without manual intervention.

A key outcome of the project is the successful adaptation of CRISPR technology to wheat, a crop traditionally challenging for genome editing. The research team is preparing for the next phase, which involves testing subsequent generations under varying temperature conditions to ensure trait stability.