Sunday Evening News 434 - Week 30 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
July 2025-07-21- July 2025-07-27
Zur Erinnerung / Reminder
Schulman A.H., Hartung F., Smulders, M.J.M, Sundström J.F., Wilhelm R., Rognli E.A., Metzlaff K. (2025): Proposed EU NGT legislation in light of plant genetic variation. Plant Biotechnol. J. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70228
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pbi.70228
epso: EPSO recommendation on the European Commission’s legal proposal for plants obtained by certain NGTs based on recent scientific data on plant genetic variation
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EU-Parliament: EU BUDGET 2028-2034 - Overview of the Commission's proposal
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/775885/EPRS_BRI(2025)775885_EN.pdf
EU: Choose Europe for life sciences
A strategy to position the EU as the world’s most attractive place for life sciences by 2030
Europaparlament fordert Unterstützung für Biotechnologie
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Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen
Non-GM Soy Conference 2025 in Frankfurt am 4. Nov. 2025:
Ab sofort ist die Anmeldung für die Non-GM Soy Conference 2025 möglich – alle Infos dazu gibt es auf www.nongmomarket.com
https://gentechnikfrei.at/4-nov-2025-non-gm-soy-conference-2025-in-frankfurt/
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
BSZ: Genial oder gefährlich? Die Angst vieler Kommunen vor den Brüsseler Liberalisierungsplänen wächst
Kääb G.: Wissenschaftler warnen vor Gentechnik-Moratorium
https://transkript.de/artikel/2025/wissenschaftler-warnen-vor-gentechnik-moratorium-im-naturschutz/
https://scienceforbiodiversity.org/
Kosmehl N., Achterberg F: Gentechnik in der Natur? Warum wir ein Moratorium brauchen
https://www.saveourseeds.org/de/aktuelles/gentechnik-in-der-natur-warum-wir-ein-moratorium-brauchen/
Niggli U.: Die Genschere revolutioniert auch den biologischen Pflanzenschutz
https://swiss-food.ch/meinungen/die-genschere-revolutioniert-auch-den-biologischen-pflanzenschutz
Draese N.: Enzym recycelt Plastik: PET-Flaschen werden biologisch abbaubar
Seed World Staff: Adoption Record: Transgenic Crops Reached 210 Million Hectares in 2024
AgBioInvestor/gm-monitor: Global GM Crop Area 2024 Review
https://gm.agbioinvestor.com/downloads
Miller H.I.: 'Wellness' Grifters' Pseudoscience Imperils Public Health
https://henrymillermd.org/28732/wellness-grifters-pseudoscience-imperils-public
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases
and media reports are ►here: July, week 30
Publications – Publikationen
Ivanov, M., Buddle, E.A. and Ankeny, R.A. (2025): Regulation as key to fulfilling the promises of agricultural genomics:
Going beyond bottlenecks in plant gene technology development. Plant J, 122: e70277. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70277
The development of new gene technologies including gene editing has reinvigorated long-standing global debates about if and how such technologies should be regulated. Many scientists working in agricultural genomics believe that current regulatory approaches are problematic, often emphasizing that the regulatory system is merely a ‘bottleneck’ that limits research and innovation in crop sciences. The concept of a ‘bottleneck’ is prominent in discussions in this domain, but we contend that what counts as a ‘bottleneck’ depends on point of view and the interests and goals of the party that wishes to describe a particular situation as bottlenecked. In this Focused Review, we provide a short account of recent scholarship on gene editing regulation and argue that regulation is an important part of the research development and innovation process that should not merely be viewed as a ‘bottleneck.’ Regulation permits regulators and diverse publics to engage with research and assess whether the particular application of gene technology is desirable and beneficial beyond the laboratory bench or field. We conclude by providing lessons for scientists working in agricultural genomics, emphasizing the need to move away from visions of ‘bottlenecks’ and embracing regulation's potential to support the promises associated with agricultural genomics.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tpj.70277
Li, G., An, L., Yang, W. et al. (2025): Integrated biotechnological and AI innovations for crop improvement.
Nature 643, 925–937 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09122-8
Crops provide food, clothing and other important products for the global population. To meet the demands of a growing population, substantial improvements are required in crop yield, quality and production sustainability. However, these goals are constrained by various environmental factors and limited genetic resources. Overcoming these limitations requires a paradigm shift in crop improvement by fully leveraging natural genetic diversity alongside biotechnological approaches such as genome editing and the heterologous expression of designed proteins, coupled with multimodal data integration. In this Review, we provide an in-depth analysis of integrated uses of omics technologies, genome editing, protein design and high-throughput phenotyping, in crop improvement, supported by artificial intelligence-enabled tools. We discuss the emerging applications and current challenges of these technologies in crop improvement. Finally, we present a perspective on how elite alleles generated through these technologies can be incorporated into the genomes of existing and de novo domesticated crops, aided by a proposed artificial intelligence model. We suggest that integrating these technologies with agricultural practices will lead to a new revolution in crop improvement, contributing to global food security in a sustainable manner.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09122-8
Raza, A. Yiran Li Y., Prakash C.S. Hu Z. (2025): Panomics to manage combined abiotic stresses in plants.
Trends in Plant Science,
Climate change-driven combined abiotic stresses threaten crop health and productivity. We propose leveraging panomics and advanced breeding tools to get insights into how plants manage combined abiotic stresses. By identifying novel molecular targets and pathways, we can fast-track designing stress-smart future crops, advancing sustainable agriculture in a changing climate.
https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/abstract/S1360-1385(25)00061-5
Gao, Y., Huang, C., Han, L. et al. (2025): Effects of genetically modified rice expressing Cry1C protein on zebrafish after a
90-day dietary intake. Sci Rep 15, 26533 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12706-z
Fish is an excellent model animal with which to assess the potential effects of exogenous toxins. In fields of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice, fish would be exposed to Bt protein released from Bt rice into the water environment or by way of direct feeding on deposited plant material. Whether Bt rice pose potential risks to the growth and health of fish have gradually become a focus of attention for environmentalists and the fish farming industry. In the present study, we assessed transgenic cry1C rice (T1C-19) on the growth and development of a fish species by feeding 45-days post-fertilization (dpf) zebrafish a diet with 20% T1C-19 rice, 20% parental rice (Minghui 63, MH63), or no rice (as a control) for 90 days. Although the zebrafish were directly exposed to Cry1C protein at a level of 137.28 ± 17.65 ng/g feed by feeding on diet containing the T1C-19 rice, no significant differences were found in the general health such as survival rate, body length and body weight, condition factor (CF), specific growth rate (SGR), and intestinal digestive and liver antioxidant enzyme activities (Trypsin, Maltase, SOD and CAT), as well as in the intestinal microbial diversity among the three test groups. Our results indicate that the development of zebrafish was not adversely affected by dietary intake of Cry1C protein which will provide an experimental basis for the aquaculture feed industry to employ transgenic rice T1C-19 for commercial purpose.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-12706-z
Patel, E., Das, P., Hazra, S. et al. (2025): Mutation in soybean Lox-2 PLAT/LH2 domain through CRISPR/Cas9 reduces seed
lipoxygenase activity: responsible for undesirable flavour. Transgenic Res 34, 29 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-025-00447-8
Soybean, a protein and oil rich legume is primarily used as livestock feed and to a lesser extent for human consumption due to undesirable flavour in the seeds caused by L-2 isozyme of lipoxygenase. Herein, soybean with reduced isozyme activity was developed through CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutation in L-2 encoding Lox-2 gene. sgRNA designed from PLAT/LH2 domain in second exon of Lox-2 (Lox-2 E2) was validated by in vitro cleavage assay; inserted in CRISPR/Cas9 binary vector and used for genetic transformation of SL1074 cultivar hypocotyl segments. A total of 12 T0 putative plants were identified through PCR. Amongst these, four revealed mutation at the target sgRNA site by CEL1 assay and substitution of a base A with G six bp upstream of PAM converting lysine to glutamic acid at 119 position. T1 and T2 seeds derived from mutant T0–37 plant showed upto 25.49% reduction in isozyme activity as compared to SL1074. The base substitution was confirmed in T1 progeny; segregation analysis revealed homozygosity and heritability of mutation in T2 plants. The interaction between structural models of SL1074, mutant domains and negatively charged substrates revealed strong binding affinity of the substrates with positively charged lysine in SL1074 domain due to formation of two hydrogen bonds. On the contrary, weak binding of the substrates with negatively charged glutamic acid in mutant domain and absence of hydrogen bond explained reduction of isozyme activity in T2 seeds. The mutant soybean with reduced isozyme activity is an important source for introgressing the trait in plant breeding programs.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-025-00447-8
Fornasiero, A., Feng, T., Al-Bader, N. et al. (2025): Oryza genome evolution through a tetraploid lens. Nat Genet 57,
1287–1297 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02183-5
Oryza is a remarkable genus comprising 27 species and 11 genome types, with ~3.4-fold genome size variation, that possesses a virtually untapped reservoir of genes that can be used for crop improvement and neodomestication. Here we present 11 chromosome-level assemblies (nine tetraploid, two diploid) in the context of ~15 million years of evolution and show that the core Oryza (sub)genome is only ~200 Mb and largely syntenic, whereas the remaining nuclear fractions (~80–600 Mb) are intermingled, plastic and rapidly evolving. For the halophyte Oryza coarctata, we found that despite detection of gene fractionation in the subgenomes, homoeologous genes were expressed at higher levels in one subgenome over the other in a mosaic form, demonstrating subgenome equivalence. The integration of these 11 new reference genomes with previously published genome datasets provides a nearly complete view of the consequences of evolution for genome diversification across the genus.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02183-5
Dong J., Li J., Zuo Y., Wang J. et al. (2024): Haplotype-resolved genome and mapping of freezing tolerance in the wild
potato Solanum commersonii, Horticulture Research,11 (9), uhae181, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae181
Solanum commersonii (2n = 2x = 24, 1EBN, Endosperm Balance Number), native to the southern regions of Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, is the first wild potato germplasm collected by botanists and exhibits a remarkable array of traits related to disease resistance and stress tolerance. In this study, we present a high-quality haplotype-resolved genome of S. commersonii. The two identified haplotypes demonstrate chromosome sizes of 706.48 and 711.55 Mb, respectively, with corresponding chromosome anchoring rates of 94.2 and 96.9%. Additionally, the contig N50 lengths are documented at 50.87 and 45.16 Mb. The gene annotation outcomes indicate that the haplotypes encompasses a gene count of 39 799 and 40 078, respectively. The genome contiguity, completeness, and accuracy assessments collectively indicate that the current assembly has produced a high-quality genome of S. commersonii. Evolutionary analysis revealed significant positive selection acting on certain disease resistance genes, stress response genes, and environmentally adaptive genes during the evolutionary process of S. commersonii. These genes may be related to the formation of diverse and superior germplasm resources in the wild potato species S. commersonii. Furthermore, we utilized a hybrid population of S. commersonii and S. verrucosum to conduct the mapping of potato freezing tolerance genes. By combining BSA-seq analysis with traditional QTL mapping, we successfully mapped the potato freezing tolerance genes to a specific region on Chr07, spanning 1.25 Mb, with a phenotypic contribution rate of 18.81%. In short, current research provides a haplotype-resolved reference genome of the diploid wild potato species S. commersonii and establishes a foundation for further cloning and unraveling the mechanisms underlying cold tolerance in potatoes.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/11/9/uhae181/7712802
Li L., Ge S., He L., Liu R. et al. (2024): SlDELLA interacts with SlPIF4 to regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and
phosphate uptake in tomato, Horticulture Research 11 (9), uhae195, https://doi.org/10.1093/
Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS), a complex and delicate process, is precisely regulated by a multitude of transcription factors. PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTORS (PIFs) are critical in plant growth and stress responses. However, the involvement of PIFs in AMS and the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulator functions have not been well elucidated. Here, we show that SlPIF4 negatively regulates the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization and AMS-induced phosphate uptake in tomato. Protein–protein interaction studies suggest that SlDELLA interacts with SlPIF4, reducing its protein stability and inhibiting its transcriptional activity towards downstream target genes. This interaction promotes the accumulation of strigolactones (SLs), facilitating AMS development and phosphate uptake. As a transcription factor, SlPIF4 directly transcriptionally regulates genes involved in SLs biosynthesis, including SlCCD7, SlCDD8, and SlMAX1, as well as the AMS-specific phosphate transporter genes PT4 and PT5. Collectively, our findings uncover a molecular mechanism by which the SlDELLA-SlPIF4 module regulates AMS and phosphate uptake in tomato. We clarify a molecular basis for how SlPIF4 interacts with SLs to regulate the AMS and propose a potential strategy to improve phosphate utilization efficiency by targeting the AMS-specific phosphate transporter genes PTs.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/11/9/uhae195/7712257?login=false
Kiboi M., Bautze D., Matheri F., Riar A., Fliessbach A. (2025): Maize yield stability under organic and conventional farming
systems in sub-humid agro-ecozones of Central Kenya. European Journal of Agronomy 170, 127746 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2025.127746
Maize (Zea mays L.) is the main staple crop and is important to the food security and livelihoods of people globally. We evaluated the effects of organic and conventional farming systems on maize grain yield and temporal yield stability under different external input levels in a long-term experiment (2007–2022) at two sites in Kenya. We implemented four farming systems: organic high (Org-High), conventional high (Conv-High), organic low (Org-Low), and conventional low (Conv-Low) in a randomized complete block design. Growth indicators for maize, height, stem diameter, and grain yield were higher in high input systems, but grain yield stability was not. At the onset of the experiments, grain yields of conventional systems were higher compared to the organic systems, whose yield levels gradually increased over time, reaching the yield levels of conventional systems. With regard to grain yield stability, the site (Chuka) with better soil fertility, the Conv-High system had the least residual variance (0.28 Mg ha−2), followed by Org-Low, Conv-Low, and Org-High showing the highest residual variance (0.67 Mg ha−2). Contrary, in the site (Kandara) with low soil fertility, Org-Low had the lowest residual variance in grain yield (0.16 Mg ha−2), followed by Conv-Low and Org-High, while Conv-High (4.15 Mg ha−2) had the highest residual variance. We observed that applying higher nutrient input levels did not necessarily lead to yield stability. Our findings suggest promoting long-term implementation of organic farming practices, especially in regions with degraded soils, for improved yield and resilience.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1161030125002424?via%3Dihub
Macedo-Cruz, A. (2025): Identification of Optimal Areas for the Cultivation of Genetically Modified Cotton in Mexico:
Compatibility with the Center of Origin and Centers of Genetic Diversity. Agriculture 15, | https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15141550
The agricultural sector faces significant sustainability, productivity, and environmental impact challenges. In this context, geographic information systems (GISs) have become a key tool to optimize resource management and make informed decisions based on spatial data. These data support planning the best cotton planting and harvest dates based on agroclimatic conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, and soil type, as well as identifying areas with a lower risk of water or thermal stress. As a result, cotton productivity is optimized, and costs associated with supplementary irrigation or losses due to adverse conditions are reduced. However, data from automatic weather stations in Mexico are scarce and incomplete. Instead, grid meteorological databases (DMM, in Spanish) were used with daily temperature and precipitation data from 1983 to 2020 to determine the heat units (HUs) for each cotton crop development stage; daily and accumulated HU; minimum, mean, and maximum temperatures; and mean annual precipitation. This information was used to determine areas that comply with environmental, geographic, and regulatory conditions (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, NOM-026-SAG/FITO-2014) to delimit areas with agricultural potential for planting genetically modified (GM) cotton. The methodology made it possible to produce thirty-four maps at a 1:250,000 scale and a digital GIS with 95% accuracy. These maps indicate whether a given agricultural parcel is optimal for cultivating GM cotton.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/14/1550
EFSA:
Food additives
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/food-additives
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme α-amylase from the genetically modified Bacillus licheniformis strain
DP-Dzb106. EFSA Journal, 23(7), e9529. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9529
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9529
GMO Panel (2025): Assessment of genetically modified cotton T304-40 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC)
No 1829/2003 (dossier GMFF-2024-23010). EFSA Journal, 23(7), e9580. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9580
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9580