Evaluación de la edición génica como herramienta para mejora del estrés hídrico y calórico en pasto estrella (Cynodon nlemfuensis)

Cattle production is an important economic activity in the country, but it currently faces challenges
in feeding these animals due to temperature increases and longer periods of drought caused by
climate change. The objective of this research is to evaluate gene editing as a tool to incorporate
tolerance to water and heat stress in African star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis). This grass was
selected for its high protein content, and palatability.
Genes of interest related to heat stress and water stress will be selected, then a transformation
vector will be designed that allows silencing of these genes using CRISPR/Cas9 by
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The transformed plants will be regenerated in Murashige
and Skoog 1962 medium, supplemented with 200 mg/L of hygromycin and 200 mg/L of
cefotaxime. The lines selected as promising will be analysed by PCR to verify the presence of the
Cas9 gene (as proof that the transformation vector was incorporated). They will then be taken to
controlled environmental chambers (CEC) and their tolerance to heat stress will be evaluated by
keeping them at 35, 40 and 45 ± 1 °C and a photoperiod of 16 hours of light (30.85 μmol/m2 s).
Furthermore, the promising lines for tolerance to water stress will be subjected to reductions in the
water doses (400, 200, 100 and 0 mL of water at a frequency of 4 to 5 days of irrigation) supplied
for their development. The progenies of three generations (F0, F1 and F2) will also be evaluated,
as well as the agronomic traits (plant growth, number of leaves, leaf length, dry weight, fresh
weight, seed amount, seeds dry weight, growth time, morphology, and anatomy). At the end of
this research, it is expected to have at least two lines that are tolerant to water stress, heat stress,
or both, minimizing alterations on their performance and morphology.

Evaluar la edición génica como herramienta para mejora del
estrés hídrico y calórico en pastos estrella africana (Cynodon nlemfuensis)

Sistemas de producción alternativos sostenibles