Publications – Publikationen

Tatangelo G., Predazzi V., Caruso F. (2026): New genomic techniques NGTs are changing the landscape of plant variety protection

https://www.sib.it/en/articles/new-genomic-techniques-are-changing-the-landscape-of-plant-variety-protection/

https://www.sib.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/New-genomic-techniques.copertina.pdf

Bertioli D.J., Leal-Bertioli S.C.M., Erda T., +2 , and Peter H. Raven P.H. (2025): Reviving Vavilov’s vision: The tragedy of

biodiversity governance and principles for reform. PNAS 122 (51) e2501753122 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2501753122

This perspective addresses two of humanity’s greatest challenges: feeding a growing population and conserving biodiversity. We begin by examining the legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, who pioneered the improvement of crops such as wheat and beans by hybridizing them with their wild relatives. This strategy used wild species biodiversity to introduce new genetic variation into crops, making them more resilient and productive. Its adoption around the world greatly increased food security and brought lasting benefits to humanity. However, since the 1990 s, well-intentioned laws shifted the governance of biodiversity from a shared global resource to the sovereign control of nation states, with serious unintended consequences. These changes have disrupted the collection, preservation, exchange, and use of biodiversity, all of which are central to Vavilov’s strategy for crop improvement and to biodiversity science more broadly. Efforts at reform have been frustrated as the issues became moralized, inhibiting the open dialogue needed for change. Using foundational concepts shared by science and good governance, we propose seven empirically grounded principles for reform, to help realign biodiversity governance with its intended aims. We then illustrate one possible framework—underpinned by global financing to protect biodiversity hotspots—that would align incentives and work in synergy with the principles to foster practical reform. The principles, together with frameworks that align incentives, would create the conditions for stronger biodiversity conservation and research, agricultural development, global food security, and all the associated benefits to humanity.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2501753122

pfd-file: https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2501753122

Xie Y., Zhang T., Yang M., Tao J. et al. (2025): Engineering crop flower morphology facilitates robotization of cross-

pollination and speed breeding. Cell 188 (21), 5809-5830,.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots offer vast opportunities in shifting toward precision agriculture to enhance crop yields, reduce costs, and promote sustainable practices. However, many crop traits obstruct the application of AI-based robots. One bottleneck is flower morphology with recessed stigmas, which hinders emasculation and pollination during hybrid breeding. We developed a crop-robot co-design strategy in tomatoes by combining genome editing with artificial-intelligence-based robots (GEAIR). We generated male-sterile lines bearing flowers with exserted stigmas, and then trained a mobile robot to automatically recognize and cross-pollinate those stigmas. GEAIR enables automated F₁ hybrid breeding with efficiency comparable to manual pollination and facilitates the rapid breeding of stress-resilient and flavorful tomatoes when combined with de novo domestication under speed-breeding conditions. Multiplex gene editing in soybean recapitulated the male-sterile, exserted-stigma phenotype, potentially unlocking robotized hybrid breeding. We demonstrate the potential of GEAIR in boosting efficiency and lowering costs through automated, faster breeding of climate-resilient crops.

https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)00840-2

Borgohain, T., Suma, R., Muttappagol, M. et al. (2026): Precision breeding in a changing climate: unlocking resilience

through omics and gene editing. Funct Integr Genomics 26, 26 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-025-01796-7

Climate change, rising global food demand, and shrinking resources require transformative innovations in crop breeding. This review outlines recent advances in new breeding technologies (NBTs), including molecular markers, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genomic selection (GS), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and gene editing (GE) tools such as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR/Cas), base editing, and prime editing. These methods enable the accurate improvement of traits, thereby accelerating the development of crops resistant to both abiotic and biotic stresses. The integration of multi-omics platforms, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenomics, provides a comprehensive framework for deciphering and manipulating complex trait architectures. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enhance precision breeding by providing data-driven insights and enabling the forecasting of traits. Emphasis is also placed on combining gene editing with other strategies, such as speed breeding, to accelerate the development of traits. This review underscores the importance of an integrated systems biology approach that combines multi-omics, gene editing, AI, and speed breeding to accelerate the development of climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally enhanced crops. The integration of these innovative technologies holds great promise for addressing global food security, environmental sustainability, and agricultural resilience in the face of climate change. A strategic framework for the future of plant breeding is outlined, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in building a sustainable agricultural future.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10142-025-01796-7

Sow, M.D., Forestan, C., Pont, C. et al. (2025): Striking convergent selection history of wheat and barley and its potential

for breeding. Nat. Plants 11, 2268–2285 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02128-0

Over the past 10,000 years, the development of civilization has been enabled by the domestication of plants and animals tailored to human needs. The Triticeae tribe, including barley and wheat, has emerged as one of the most important sources of staple foods worldwide. Here, comparing genomes of wheat and barley genotypes from around the world, we unveiled genomic footprints of convergent selection affecting genes involved in crop adaptation and productivity, as well as a lack of parallel selection for diverse genes delivering genetic diversity specific to particular geographic and associated environmental conditions. We demonstrate that studying convergent selection between crops can help to identify genes crucial for adaptation and sources of diversity for improving cultivated species—forming the basis of the proposed concept of inter-crop translational research for breeding.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-02128-0

Bernasconi, Z., Herger, A.G., Caro, M.D.P. et al. (2026): Virulence on Pm4 kinase-based resistance is determined by two

divergent wheat powdery mildew effectors. Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02180-w

The wheat resistance gene Pm4 encodes a kinase fusion protein and has gained particular attention as it confers race-specific resistance against two major wheat pathogens: powdery mildew and blast. Here we describe the identification of AvrPm4, the mildew avirulence effector recognized by Pm4, using UV mutagenesis, and its functional validation in wheat protoplasts. We show that AvrPm4 directly interacts with and is phosphorylated by Pm4. Using genetic association and quantitative trait locus mapping, we further demonstrate that the evasion of Pm4 resistance by virulent mildew isolates relies on a second fungal component, SvrPm4, which suppresses AvrPm4-induced cell death. Surprisingly, SvrPm4 was previously described as AvrPm1a. We show that SvrPm4, but not its inactive variant svrPm4, is recognized by the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor Pm1a. These multiple roles of a single effector provide a new perspective on fungal (a)virulence proteins and their combinatorial interactions with different types of immune receptors.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-02180-w

Transgene-Free Editing of PPO2 in Elite Potato Cultivar YAGANA for Reduced Postharvest Browning

Enzymatic browning, driven by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), remains a major postharvest challenge for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), reducing product quality, shelf life, and consumer acceptance. To mitigate this trait in the elite tetraploid cultivar ‘Yagana-INIA’, we applied a geminivirus-derived CRISPR–Cas9 system to edit the StPPO genes most highly expressed in tubers, StPPO1 and particularly StPPO2. A paired-gRNA strategy generated a double-cut deletion in StPPO1, while StPPO2 editing required a complementary single-gRNA screening workflow. High-resolution fragment analysis and sequencing identified three StPPO2-edited lines, including one that lacked GFP, Cas9, and Rep/RepA sequences, confirming a transgene-free editing outcome. Edited tubers exhibited visibly reduced browning relative to wild type, and biochemical assays showed decreased PPO activity consistent with targeted disruption of StPPO2. Amplicon sequencing verified monoallelic editing at the gRNA2 site in the non-transgenic line. These results demonstrate the utility of a replicon-based CRISPR system for achieving targeted, transgene-free edits in tetraploid potato and identify a non-GM StPPO2-edited line with improved postharvest quality under Chile’s regulatory framework.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/16/2/216

Yang, J., Zheng, R., Zhang, X., Wang, Z., & Wang, X. (2026): Breeding of glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified rice

BriA15-38. GM Crops & Food, 17(1). | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2603719

Glyphosate has become a widely used broad-spectrum herbicide in agricultural fields due to its broad-spectrum efficacy, low toxicity, safety, and minimal of soil residue. However, glyphosate exerts an inactivating effect on both rice and paddy weeds, thereby limiting its large-scale application. Consequently, the development of glyphosate-tolerant rice varieties is essential for realizing the large-scale application of glyphosate in paddy fields for chemical weed control. In this study, we constructed the vector pC33-A15, which contained the glyphosate-resistant gene aroA_A1501. This constructed vector was introduced into the rice variety ZH11 using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, resulting in the generation of 37 transgenic plants. The glyphosate tolerance of the resulting genetically modified rice plants was evaluated through seed germination, hydroponic culture, and field spray tests to identify glyphosate-resistant plants. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the aroA_A1501 gene was successfully expressed in the genetically modified plants, with significantly increased expression levels in the leaves following glyphosate application. Western blot analysis further confirmed the successful expression of the aroA_A1501 protein in the genetically modified plants. Additionally, shikimic acid content analysis conducted at various time points after glyphosate application demonstrated that the aroA_A1501 protein effectively fulfilled the role of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), thereby maintaining normal metabolic activity. Our results indicated that the genetically modified rice developed in this study exhibited robust glyphosate tolerance, capable of withstanding glyphosate concentrations up to 8000 ppm. This study provides a valuable genetic resource for the development of glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified rice, offering a potential solution for efficient weed management in paddy fields.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2603719#abstract

Chen, JH., Gong, HY., Wen, ZY. et al. (2026): A 90-day safety study of meat from MSTN gene-edited Mongolian cattle in

mice. Sci Rep 16, 2091 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31934-x

The knockout (KO) of the myostatin (MSTN) gene can increase muscle production in Mongolian cattle; however, the safety of MSTN-KO beef has not been evaluated. In this study, we fed mice varying concentrations of MSTN-KO beef and monitored physiological and tissue changes. Compared with the control group fed with wild-type beef, mice fed with MSTN-KO beef did not show significant changes, including weight gain, food intake, and organ weight. Furthermore, most blood parameters of the experimental groups remained stable. Serum metabolomics analysis confirmed that MSTN-KO beef had a limited impact on the mice’s overall metabolism, with only 24 differential metabolites identified. Our findings from this 90-day trial show no toxic effects of MSTN-KO Mongolian beef on mice. This directly addresses the long-standing lack of toxicity data for such gene-edited beef. Notably, this is the first study to fill the research gap, and the evidence generated in this work actively supports the safety assessment of MSTN-modified animal-derived foods.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-31934-x

Topping C.J. et al. (2025): Escaping the Reductionistic Trap: A Systems-Based Approach to Environmental Risk

Assessment, Environmental Science & Technology 60 (1) | DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c16333

Chemical regulation stands at a critical juncture. Decades of reliance on reductionist environmental risk assessment (ERA) frameworks have produced a paradox: increasingly sophisticated models that fail to predict real-world harms. Postmarket bans of neonicotinoids, widespread restrictions on glyphosate, and documented pollinator declines across multiple continents reveal a fundamental methodological failure embedded in how we evaluate chemical safety. This conceptual failure has been recognized in relation to EU pesticides (1) and chemicals. (2,3) Moreover, previous work (4,5) has pointed to the naive assumption in the current ERA paradigm that understanding individual chemical–ecosystem interactions in isolation, using abstract risk ratios and standardized scenarios, can provide adequate protection. On the contrary, by ignoring ecosystem interactions, cumulative stressors, and system-level thresholds, traditional approaches create an illusion of precision while systematically missing the complex cascading impacts that drive environmental harm. We argue that underlying these shortcomings is a fundamental cognitive bias that drives debate and action in the wrong and futile direction, that increased precision can be equated with accuracy. We call this the reductionist trap.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.5c16333

EFSA

GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 87705 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC)

No 1829/2003 (application GMFF-2023-21236). EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9846. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9846

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9846

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain, a cysteine endopeptidase complex from the latex of Carica papaya L.

EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9842. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9842

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9842

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain, a cysteine endopeptidase complex from the latex of Carica papaya L.

EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9842. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9842

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9842

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain, a cysteine endopeptidase complex from the latex of Carica papaya L.

EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9838. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9838

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9838

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme β-fructofuranosidase from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain

ATCC 20611. EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9833. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9833

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9833

FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme papain from the latex of Carica papaya L. EFSA Journal, 24(1), e9837.

https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9837

https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9837

see also food enzymes: https://www.biotech-enzymes.com/eu-list-lebensmittelenzyme-efsa-sicherheitsbewertung-2026