Breeding with Green Gene mutations

May 2012

Picture this: a breeder has bred a tomato variety. Great taste and very juicy. A valuable product of years of patient crossing and selection. Difficult to improve. But in some aspects less than ideal: a bit too tall, shelf-life not optimal. Here is where breeding at the gene level comes in: individual genes that control such less-than-ideal aspects can be altered in a non-GMO way and selected for improvement. The result is a precisely enhanced product that maintains the overall so appreciated qualities of the original variety.

How does this work? Seeds of the tomato variety are treated with a common chemical mutagen(s), a standard practice in traditional plant breeding. This causes mutations in DNA in much the same way as biological variation arises in nature, but at enhanced speed. These seeds are planted, and the genes are screened for mutations by high-powered DNA analysis machines. Seedlings with the new mutations are picked and grown. Their performance with respect to the quality of the tomato, is then carefully evaluated in the course of a few generations, and an improved version of the gene is selected to produce an enhanced tomato variety.

A simple concept. However, its realization has awaited new methods to deal with the massive screening work before arriving at a dozen or so, promising new gene variants. These methods are now available by KeyGene. Low cost DNA sequencing and smart ways of growing, sampling and screening of large numbers of plants, have made mutation breeding at gene level a practical reality. And better: the approach works perfectly and is quick. Selection can be done on young plantlets, whether from trees, vegetables, cereals or any other crop.

Our knowledge of genes and DNA, and how this translates into the properties of plants, has long been due for application to real life challenges. With the breeding of genes, directly at the level of DNA, a significant step has been taken to bridge the gap that existed. Methodologically non-GMO, the breeding of genes with mutations is poised for a green future.

For more information on KeyPoint® Mutation Breeding, please contact:
Dr. Jeroen Stuurman, Senior Scientist, js@keygene.com