Unveiling the Intricate Hijacking of Plants' Cellular Plumbing by Bacterial Pathogens

Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully transferred a gene within plant cells to produce tobacco plants that lack pollen and viable seeds while growing normally. This technique could be used to improve hybrid seed production in crops or introduce seedlessness in fruit species. The researchers moved an essential mitochondrial gene to the nucleus and used genome editing tools to remove the native gene. The transferred gene was expressed in every cell except those responsible for pollen production. The plants appeared normal but failed to produce pollen. Additionally, when cross-fertilized, the plants produced small, hollow seeds. The researchers are now working to achieve either pollen infertility or the seedless trait alone. They plan to test the technique in other plant species such as tomato and rice.