GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2559488
T Vlčko,V Psota,R Koprna,W Harwood,L Ohnoutková
{"title":"Transgenic barley over-expressing Aspergillus niger phytase phyA in field trials.","authors":"T Vlčko,V Psota,R Koprna,W Harwood,L Ohnoutková","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2559488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2559488","url":null,"abstract":"Phytic acid is the main storage of phosphate in grains of staple crops. As phytic acid is hardly digestible for non-ruminants microbial phytases are used to supplement animal feed to enhance phosphate digestibility. A fungal phytase gene was introduced into barley with the aim of enhancing phosphate digestibility. Transgenic homozygous barley over-expressing fungal phytase phyA showed a 3.3fold increase in mature grain phytase activity. Field trials at two locations in the Czech Republic were conducted in a five-year experiment to test transgene stability and activity under field conditions. Increased phytase activity gradually decreased over the generations showing the most significant drop in the initial years of field trials. Molecular analysis revealed methylation in the coding sequence of the phyA transgene, suggesting transcription gene silencing. On the other hand, herbicide resistance used for selection of transgenic plants was functional over all generations. The feasibility of crossing the transgene into the feeding cultivar Azit was demonstrated with subsequent stabilization of hybrid progeny through androgenesis. Our results indicate that the Azit genetic background tended to reduce phytase activity in mature grains of hybrids. Grain-specific over-expression of fungal phytase driven by an amylase promoter improved phosphate levels during germination. Unfortunately, a malting experiment revealed that phytase over-expression did not significantly improve malting parameters. In fact, the higher nitrogen content in unmalted grain negatively affected the quality of the malt produced from them.","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"3 1","pages":"607-625"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-09-15DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2559489
Muhammad Imran,Qiufei Wu,Chen Guanming,Lixia Zhou
{"title":"Multifaceted roles and regulatory mechanisms of MYB transcription factors in plant development, secondary metabolism, and stress adaptation: current insights and future prospects.","authors":"Muhammad Imran,Qiufei Wu,Chen Guanming,Lixia Zhou","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2559489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2559489","url":null,"abstract":"MYB transcription factor family represents one of the largest and most functionally diverse groups of regulatory proteins in plants, playing a crucial role in controlling genes involved in growth, development, and stress responses. MYB proteins are characterized by a conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain. They are classified based on the number of R repeats, and possess a variable C-terminal region that determines their specific functions. In response to environmental signals, MYB proteins bind to specific DNA elements in target promoters, acting alone or with other regulators to modulate stress-responsive pathways. These factors integrate signaling cascades involving abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), brassinosteroids (BR), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), aiding plant adaptation to adverse conditions. This review explores structural features, classification, and regulatory mechanisms, focusing on their roles in salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, nutrient deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, and pathogen defense. Additionally, we highlight the advances and potential of MYB genes as targets for engineering stress-resilient crops through breeding and genetic modification.","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"65 1","pages":"626-655"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145068368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-09-12DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2550820
Anyi Liu,Xueqian Yin,Jing Wen,Chao Hou,Ruoyu Zhou,Xinran Liu,Ning Yin,Yuanzhi Jian,Shan Liu,Xiaoxuan Zhang,Junbo Wang
{"title":"Relative safety of glyphosate-resistant maize (CC-2) in rats.","authors":"Anyi Liu,Xueqian Yin,Jing Wen,Chao Hou,Ruoyu Zhou,Xinran Liu,Ning Yin,Yuanzhi Jian,Shan Liu,Xiaoxuan Zhang,Junbo Wang","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2550820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2550820","url":null,"abstract":"With the rapid adoption of glyphosate-resistant (GR) crops by farmers, the food safety has garnered significant attention. This study aims to evaluate the relative safety of glyphosate-resistant maize (CC-2). Rats were divided into three groups: one group receiving AIN-93 G feed (AIN), one receiving non-modified receptor maize feed (NM), and the other receiving CC-2 maize feed (GM). The intervention spanned from gestation d 0 of the parental rats to 90 d post-weaning of the offspring. The results indicated no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes, body weight, growth monitoring, behavioral tests, or organ indexes between the GM group and the two control groups (AIN and NM). Although there were significant differences in some hematological parameters, serum chemistry, and organ weights, histopathological analysis revealed no abnormalities. No exogenous gene fragments were detected in major organs. In conclusion, CC-2 maize is relative safe for growth and development in rats.","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"29 1","pages":"591-606"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145036100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-08-31DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2548638
Li Jiang, Mike Adcock, Hong Yang
{"title":"To patent or not to patent: challenges and solutions to the patent ban on new genomic techniques plant in EU","authors":"Li Jiang, Mike Adcock, Hong Yang","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2548638","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2548638","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144924217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2548639
Yihang Bao, Chulin Pan
{"title":"Genome-wide profiling of GRAS genes in flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) reveals LuGRAS30 as a key regulator of drought stress resistance","authors":"Yihang Bao, Chulin Pan","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2548639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2548639","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2548053
Eun-Ha Kim, Youn-Sung Cho, Byeori Kim, Yelinn Yoo, Jae-In Lee, Young Soon Kim, Tae-Sung Park
{"title":"Development of a duplex chamber digital PCR to quantify twelve genetically modified maize events","authors":"Eun-Ha Kim, Youn-Sung Cho, Byeori Kim, Yelinn Yoo, Jae-In Lee, Young Soon Kim, Tae-Sung Park","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2548053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2548053","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"27 1","pages":"527-538"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144900345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of barley lipoxygenase genes promotes grain fatty acid accumulation and storability.","authors":"Zhanghui Zeng,Huiling Wang,Yingjie Luo,Wenjun Chen,Mingrui Xu,Haonan Wei,Zhehao Chen,Taihe Xiang,Lilin Wang,Ning Han,Xiaoping Huang,Hongwu Bian","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2523069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2523069","url":null,"abstract":"Plant lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can adversely affect grain storability. Although the genetic engineering of LOXs holds great potential for improving grain storage quality, this approach remains largely unexplored in barley. In this study, we identified five LOX genes in the barley genome: HvLOXA, HvLOXB, and HvLOXC1-3. HvLOXC1 exhibited the highest expression in early developing grains, roots, and shoots; HvLOXA was predominantly expressed in embryos, whereas HvLOXB and HvLOXC3 were weakly expressed across tissues. Transgene-free homozygous barley mutants of loxB, loxC1, and loxAloxC1 were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Compared to the wild-type, all mutants displayed normal plant height, tiller number, and grain size, although the loxC1 and loxAloxC1 mutants exhibited significantly lower thousand grain weights. Notably, the total LOX activity in mature grains decreased by 36-42% in loxC1 mutants and by 94% in loxAloxC1 mutants, with no significant change observed in loxB mutants. Additionally, the loxAloxC1 double mutants had a significantly lower malondialdehyde content and accumulated 10-21% more fatty acids than the wild-type. Artificial aging treatment experiments revealed that loxAloxC1 mutants had enhanced grain storability, demonstrated by significantly higher germination rates, reduced lipid peroxidation, and improved seedling growth. Our findings highlight that the targeted knockout of LOX genes, particularly the double mutation of HvLOXA and HvLOXC1, represents a promising genetic strategy for improving grain storability and nutritional value in barley.","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"43 1","pages":"482-497"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144488182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GM Crops & FoodPub Date : 2025-06-26DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2025.2524236
Marc Groenen,Gijs W Spaans,Lianne M S Bouwman,Gijs A Kleter,Jan Pieter van der Berg
{"title":"Feasibility of a safe innovation framework for crop breeding.","authors":"Marc Groenen,Gijs W Spaans,Lianne M S Bouwman,Gijs A Kleter,Jan Pieter van der Berg","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2025.2524236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2524236","url":null,"abstract":"Biotechnological innovations accelerate the development of new plant varieties at an ever-increasing pace. A framework for safe innovation can create opportunities for the integration of safety considerations into each stage of the lifecycle of these products. Through stakeholder engagement, we discussed their views, preferences, as well as perceived challenges surrounding safe innovation and innovative biotechnological tools in the plant breeding sector. Furthermore, five scenarios for safe innovation frameworks were presented to them. Stakeholders from the Dutch plant breeding sector favored a self-regulated safety scenario, allowing the plant breeding sector to develop best practices with guidance from the government and independent researchers. Based on the stakeholders' views, we developed a draft voluntary framework for safe innovation named \"Safe Innovation in Plant breeding (SIP) Framework,\" which is grounded in safe innovation principles, and focuses on food safety in particular.","PeriodicalId":501763,"journal":{"name":"GM Crops & Food","volume":"12 1","pages":"498-515"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144488220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}