武汉科学家找到油菜白菜等作物“患癌”的关键基因

Core Viewpoint - The research team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has identified the key gene GSL5 responsible for root knot disease in cruciferous crops, which causes significant economic losses in China, amounting to hundreds of billions of yuan annually [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - Root knot disease, caused by the pathogen root-knot nematodes, poses a severe threat to the supply of edible oil and vegetables in China [1]. - The GSL5 gene assists root-knot nematodes in infecting crops by being hijacked by the nematode's effector proteins, which shut down the plant's disease resistance pathways [1][2]. - Gene editing technology has been successfully used to knock out the GSL5 gene in various crops, leading to the development of new varieties of oilseed rape, cabbage, and kale that exhibit broad-spectrum resistance or immunity to root-knot nematodes [2]. Group 2: Implications and Innovations - This breakthrough challenges the traditional breeding methods that rely on interspecific hybridization for disease resistance in cruciferous crops, paving the way for a new approach in disease resistance improvement through gene editing [2]. - The research provides significant technological support for ensuring the autonomy and control of superior genes and seed sources in China [2]. - The findings were published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics, highlighting the importance and recognition of this research in the scientific community [3].