Sunday Evening News 494/ 2026
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
September 2026-10-12 - October 2026-10-18 Week 42
Meetings und Veranstaltungen
IVA-Webinar: NGT1 in Deutschland: Erfolgreiche Umsetzung für Züchtung und Landwirtschaft
29. Oktober 2026 | 09:00–10:00 Uhr
https://veranstaltung.iva.de/#/events/e32f7154-109a-485a-870b-de3c0e72c223
BMLEH: Innovationstage Wissenstransfer
Berlin; 03.-04.11.2026
Wissenstransfer, Austausch, Dialog. Die alle zwei Jahre stattfindenden Innovationstage bieten die Möglichkeit zur breiten Vernetzung der Akteurinnen und Akteure aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Politik und geben einen Einblick in die zukunftsweisenden Projekte aus der Innovationsförderung des BMLEH.
https://www.innovationsprogramm.de/innovationstage
EU-Commission: NGTs Conference: Registration now open
The European Commission is organising a conference on Innovation and Resilience in the Agrifood Chain - Regulation on Plants Obtained by New Genomic Techniques on 3 December in Brussels.
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/newsletter-archives/80269
Ist da Gentechnik drin? Genetisch veränderte Organismen im Tierfutter und auf unserem Teller
5. Januar 2027, 16:00 Uhr - 5. Januar 2027, 18:00 Uhr
Referent: Prof. Ralf Einspanier (Professor a.D. für Veterinär-Biochemie an der Freien Universität Berlin (FUB))
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Informationsdienst Gentechnik: Neue Gentechnik lässt sich immer besser nachweisen
https://www.keine-gentechnik.de/nachricht/neue-gentechnik-laesst-sich-immer-besser-nachweisen
Zentrum Liberale Moderne: Stakeholder Dialog: Warum der Streit um die EU-Verordnung zu moderner Gentechnik jetzt
beigelegt werden sollte
Morrison O.: Could gene editing open the door to broader GMO acceptance in Europe? Opens in new window
EU and UK Risk Falling Further Behind Global Agricultural Competitors, Weakening Strategic Autonomy
Brooks R.: BASF Eyes 2027 Split for Agricultural Solutions Business
Crop protection, seeds and digital tools could be rolled into a standalone company by middle of next year.
Taylor G.: Europe’s extreme caution on NGTs is deepening distrust, not rebuilding it
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: October week 42
Publications – Publikationen
Plank J. (2026): Neue Gentechnik braucht das Land! ERNÄHRUNG | NUTRITION 50 |
Ernährungssicherheit braucht neue Ansätze – Neue Gentechnik ist ein erfolgversprechender Weg. Dieser Sommer war ein Signal. Die ausbleibenden Niederschläge und die große Hitze haben in vielen Regionen unseres Landes riesige Probleme für die Wasserversorgung und Agrarproduktion gebracht. Welche Ansätze kann es in Zukunft für die Aufrechterhaltung unserer Ernährungssicherheit geben? Ein Denkanstoß.
https://www.ernaehrung-nutrition.at/ (pdf-Datei vorhanden)
Editorial: Europe’s two tiers of genome editing. Nat. Plants 12, 1303 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02359-9
Coordinated editing of coding and regulatory sequences creates elite herbicide-tolerant alleles. Nat. Plants (2026) | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02426-1
Human, Z. R., Hoover, R., Chan, C., Küsel, K. & Wegner, C.-E. (2026). High diversity but limited expression of biosynthetic
gene clusters in a peatland microbial community. Nature Communications, 17, 10529. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78121-8
The in situ relevance of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) remains poorly understood. We apply meta-omics to characterize BGC diversity and activity along a peatland redox gradient. From seven metagenomes, we recover 9,694 BGCs, spanning diverse taxa, most lacking close relatives in reference databases, indicating extensive novelty. Only 9-27% of this potential is expressed in situ, with Acidobacteriota, despite moderate repertoires, accounting for over half of all BGC transcription. Talented producers with up to 24 clusters are largely silent, and expression is inversely related to BGCs per genome. Acidobacteriota, specialized in complex carbon processing potential express a larger proportion of their BGC repertoires than BGC-rich Pseudomonadota, which had shorter doubling times and lower potential for complex carbon processing. At the genome level, the degree of BGC expression is most strongly coupled to carbohydrate-active enzyme expression, particularly glycoside hydrolases, linking secondary metabolism to active carbon processing in peatland microbes. Thus, although BGCs are widespread, BGC expression in situ is integrated into the carbon-cycling activity of individual taxa rather than a shared physiological state.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78121-8
Zhang, R., Chai, Z., Wang, M. et al. (2026): Coordinating structure-guided design and cis-regulatory optimization to
engineer elite herbicide-tolerance alleles in crops. Nat. Plants https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02423-4
Genome editing facilitates the rapid creation of elite alleles, yet identifying editable sites for durable trait improvement without functional trade-offs remains challenging. Most current strategies modify a single genetic axis, limiting their effectiveness and stability. Here we developed a dual-layer allele engineering framework integrating structure-guided protein design with precise cis-regulatory tuning to overcome such constraints. Using rice 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (OsHPPD) as a model, structural analysis enabled the rational design of coding variants that retain enzymatic activity while conferring herbicide resistance. To further enhance resistance, we introduced a highly efficient 22-bp expression-modulating element into the engineered alleles, generating combinatorial coding and regulatory variants with significantly improved resistance, up to four times the recommended field application rate. Importantly, the dual-layer strategy was successfully applied in polyploid wheat, demonstrating its robustness and cross-species applicability. Our work establishes a versatile framework for functional allele engineering, offering a precise and broadly applicable route for crop improvement.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-026-02423-4
Dong, Y., Dong, Y., Xu, X. et al. (2026): Fine mapping of QPm.caas-4BL.2 for adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew in
wheat. Theor Appl Genet 139, 299 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-026-05406-3
Key message: We fine-mapped QPm.caas-4BL.2 for adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew in an 880-kb physical interval, predicted a candidate gene, identified a favorable haplotype in wheat, and developed a CAPS marker for marker-assisted breeding.
Powdery mildew, a globally devastating disease, severely impairs both grain yield and quality in wheat. Identification of powdery mildew resistance genes is essential for marker-assisted selection of disease-resistant wheat cultivars. In the present study, we conducted fine mapping of the QTL QPm.caas-4BL.2 for adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew from the Zhou8425B/Chinese Spring recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. By integrating genotypic and phenotypic data from progeny populations of 63 heterozygous recombinant individuals, QPm.caas-4BL.2 was mapped to an 880-kb physical interval (611.71-612.59 Mb) on chromosome 4B, containing 12 high-confidence annotated genes in the Chinese Spring reference genome (IWGSC RefSeq v2.1). TraesCS4B03G0836900 (annotated as an MLO) was considered a potential causal gene of QPm.caas-4BL.2 based on gene sequence polymorphisms, transcriptome profiles, and haplotype analysis. The TraesCS4B03G0836900 gene contains seven SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and formed six haplotypes in 145 re-sequenced wheat accessions, with Hap5-mlo carrying a missense mutation that showed significantly lower disease severity than other haplotypes. A cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) marker targeting the missense mutation was developed and validated in the Zhou8425B-derived varieties. Varieties carrying Zhou8425B allele exhibited 6.9% reduction in disease severity compared to those with Chinese Spring allele. This study provides genes, molecular markers, and resistant germplasm for improvement of powdery mildew resistance in wheat cultivars.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-026-05406-3
Sui, Y., Zhao, Y., Chen, W., Duan, B., Wang, Z., & Chen, Z. (2026): Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology for Smart Storage:
Quality and Safety Perspectives in Horticultural Produce. Current Research in Food Science, 101594 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101594
Addressing the global challenge of postharvest losses in horticultural produce requires the continuous development of innovative strategies that integrate cutting-edge technology with fundamental biological knowledge. This review explores the synergy between artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and traditional postharvest management strategies to improve the quality, safety, and shelf-life of fruits and vegetables (F&V). We examine the physiological and molecular mechanisms driving postharvest deterioration, including respiration, senescence, and host-pathogen interactions, while evaluating how AI-driven tools are advancing quality monitoring, predictive analytics, and supply chain optimization. Furthermore, we assess the potential of advanced biotechnological interventions, such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and RNA interference techniques, to extend shelf-life and enhance the disease resistance in horticultural crops. By evaluating recent progress in these domains, we present integrated strategies that combine biological insight with digital transformation for sustainable postharvest management. The effective implementation of these approaches holds considerable potential to reduce F&V waste, enhance food security, and create horticultural supply chains that are more resilient to ever growing global production and evolving environmental challenges.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927126002947?via%3Dihub
Karmacharya, A., Lhamo, D., Islam, M.M. et al. (2026): Genome-wide association mapping of tan spot resistance in a
modified NAM population derived from synthetic hexaploid wheat. Theor Appl Genet 139, 302 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-026-05382-8
Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is a major foliar disease of wheat worldwide, and expanding the genetic basis of resistance remains a breeding priority. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) represents a valuable reservoir of novel alleles, yet its contribution to tan spot resistance has not been fully characterized. Here, a modified Nested Association Mapping population including 276 BC1F8 lines from crosses between four SHW parents and diverse hard red spring wheat (HRSW) cultivars was evaluated for reactions to five P. tritici-repentis races and two associated necrotrophic effectors (NEs) (Ptr ToxA and Ptr ToxB). The population exhibited broad phenotypic variation, with SHW parents and 66 BC1F8 lines showing resistance to all races. Genome-wide association analysis identified 21 marker-trait associations (MTAs) associated with tan spot resistance, of which, 6 resistance alleles were derived from SHW and 4 from HRSW parents, and 11 from both. Major-effect resistance loci were localized on chromosomes 5A, 2B, 5B, and 7D. Additionally, 14 MTAs were associated with Ptr ToxA sensitivity and 2 with Ptr ToxB sensitivity. Resistance alleles contributed by both parents showed a significant additive effect in reducing disease severity. Several loci colocalized with previously reported QTLs or genes, including Tsn1-B1 and Tsc2, while others represent potentially novel genomic regions. Notably, multiple lines were resistant to all races despite sensitivity to one or both NEs, indicating the presence of quantitative resistance other than those effector–sensitivity loci. These findings provide valuable genetic resources for facilitating marker‑assisted and genomic selection targeting tan spot resistance in wheat breeding.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-026-05382-8
Thawarorit, A., Lübberstedt, T., Dermail, A. et al. (2026): Seasonal performance and stability of tropical-adapted maize
haploid inducers. BMC Plant Biol | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-10019-5
Background: The development of maternal haploid inducers adapted to tropical savanna environments is important for efficient implementation of doubled haploid (DH) technology in maize breeding. This study evaluated 14 advanced F₅ tropical-derived haploid inducer lines together with the temperate inducer BHI306 across three growing seasons to characterize induction performance, diagnostic-marker reliability, seasonal consistency, and operational breeding value.
Methods: Field evaluations were conducted during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 dry seasons and the 2025 rainy season using Pacific789 as the maternal tester. Traits included putative haploid induction rate (HIR), marker misclassification with and without the flat-embryo criterion (MCRF and MCRNF), phenotypically confirmed haploid recovery, red root uniformity (RRU), pollen production capacity (PPD), flowering, and plant architecture. Fixed- and random-genotype REML models were used for entry comparison and estimation of entry-mean broad-sense heritability, respectively. Trait associations were evaluated using genotype-level correlations, and hierarchical clustering together with a predefined weighted selection index combining HIR, MCRNF, and PPD was used to characterize operational performance.
Results: Significant overall genotype effects were detected for HIR, MCRF, RRU, and tassel length, whereas MCRNF, phenotypically confirmed haploid induction rates, and most agronomic traits showed no significant overall genotypic differentiation. Significant genotype × season variation occurred for most induction-related and agronomic traits. Entry-mean broad-sense heritability was trait-dependent, ranging from 0 to 0.74. MCRF showed the highest estimate (0.74; 95% CI 0.30–0.89), whereas HIR (0.59) and RRU (0.60) had moderate point estimates but wide confidence intervals, and MCRNF had a boundary estimate of zero. Genotype-level correlations showed that relationships among HIR, marker misclassification, phenotypically confirmed recovery, and plant architecture varied in magnitude and direction among seasons, with several associations not consistently reproduced across seasonal conditions. The weighted selection index identified different seasonal leaders: K8/BHI306-68 in 2023/24, K8/BHI306-53 in 2024/25, and K8/BHI306-61 in the 2025 rainy season. K8/BHI306-61 was the only entry ranked among the top three in all three seasons and was also assigned to Cluster B.
Conclusions: Tropical-derived inducer lines retained substantial phenotypic induction capacity under tropical savanna conditions, but their relative performance was strongly trait- and season-dependent. Reliable selection therefore requires integration of induction capacity, diagnostic reliability, reproductive performance, and consistency across seasons rather than reliance on a single trait or analytical approach. K8/BHI306-61 showed the most consistent operational ranking among the evaluated entries and warrants further multi-location, multi-year, and maternal-background validation.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12870-026-10019-5
EFSA
GMO Panel (2026): Assessment of genetically modified maize Bt11 × MIR162 × MON 89034 × NK603 (application GMFF-2025-33624).
EFSA Journal, 24 (10), e10364 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10364
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10364
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo-polygalacturonase from the non-genetically modified Rhizopus oryzae
strain MC3-3-9. EFSA Journal, 24(10), e10333. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10333
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10333
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase from the genetically modified
Escherichia coli K12 strain DSM 34230. EFSA Journal, 24(10), e10342 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10342
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10342
FEZ Panel (2026). Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme non-reducing end α-l-arabinofuranosidase from the
genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain NZYM-GV. EFSA Journal, 24 (10), e10340 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10340
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10340
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme containing endo-polygalacturonase, pectinesterase, pectin lyase and
arabinan endo-1,5-α-l-arabinanase activities from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain ASNSC. EFSA Journal 24 (10), e10330 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10330
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10330
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme containing endo-polygalacturonase, pectinesterase, pectin lyase and
arabinan endo-1,5-α-l-arabinanase activities from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain ASNSC. EFSA Journal, 24 (10), e10330 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10330
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.10330