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CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.

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Main Author: Spencer, Katarina Paula
Other Authors: Burger, Johan
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author Spencer, Katarina Paula
author2 Burger, Johan
author_browse Burger, Johan
Spencer, Katarina Paula
author_facet Burger, Johan
Spencer, Katarina Paula
author_sort Spencer, Katarina Paula
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/126075
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:45:13.015Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/126075 CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine Spencer, Katarina Paula Burger, Johan Campa, Manuela Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Genetics. CRISPR (Genetics) Genome editing Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) -- Virus diseases Plants -- Virus resistance CRISPR/Cas CRISPR-associated protein 9 UCTD Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2022. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is an important fruit crop which contributes significantly to the South African agricultural sector, and is a major produce crop worldwide. Grapevine viruses are widespread and cause serious diseases which impact the quality and quantity of crop yields. More than 80 viruses plague grapevine, with RNA viruses constituting the largest of virus pathogens. Clustered regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR), along with its CRISPR- associated (Cas) proteins, is a system which has been harnessed from the prokaryotic immune system and adapted for genome editing technologies. The first CRISPR system to be adapted for genome editing was CRISPR/Cas9, which is characterised by its ability to target double-strand DNA. A recent extension to the CRISPR armoury is the Cas13 effector, which exclusively targets single-strand RNA. CRISPR/Cas has been implemented as a defence mechanism in plants, against both DNA and RNA viruses, by being programmed to directly target and cleave the viral genomes. The efficacy of the CRISPR/Cas tool in plants is dependent on efficient delivery of its components into plant cells. Geminiviruses, a group of small DNA viruses with a useful replication mechanism, have been reconstructed into efficient expression vectors and used for the delivery of genome editing components. By harnessing the CRISPR/Cas tool, and implementing the use of a viral vector for the expression thereof, a robust approach to induce virus resistance in plants can be achieved. To this end, the first aim of this study was to use CRISPR/CasRx to target an infectious clone of the RNA virus, grapevine virus A (GVA). GVA naturally infects V. vinifera, but can infect the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana, making it a helpful model to study virus infection in grapevine. The second aim of this study sought to use a geminivirus vector based on the bean yellow dwarf virus (BeYDV) to deliver and express CRISPR/Cas9 components in N. benthamiana. Firstly, constructs harbouring CasRx and a guide RNA (gRNA) targeting the replicase gene of GVA were assembled, and used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of N. benthamiana. Transgenic lines were infiltrated with the GVA infectious clone, but no consistent GVA interference was observed. To improve virus targeting, gRNAs were designed against the coat protein (CP) gene of GVA. N. benthamiana plants expressing CasRx were co-infiltrated with the infectious clone, and with a tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-gRNA expression vector, harbouring a CP gRNA. Results indicated more consistent GVA reductions, specifically CP gRNA 2, which demonstrated a significant negative correlation with GVA accumulation, as well as multiple gRNA co-infiltrations which similarly showed reduced GVA titre. When the pRIC BeYDV vector was used for gene targeting with CRISPR/Cas9, exogenously-delivered enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP), as well as endogenous N. benthamiana genes phytoene desaturase (PDS), and green fluorescence protein (GFP), from the transgenic N. benthamiana 16c line, were successfully cleaved and edited. By establishing a virus-targeting defence system in plants, and utilising a high- expressing geminivirus vector for the delivery of genome editing components, efficient virus interference mechanisms can be established and applied to major crops, such as grapevine. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2022-11-22T13:10:16Z 2023-01-16T12:48:50Z 2022-11-22T13:10:16Z 2023-01-16T12:48:50Z 2022-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/126075 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xvii, 136 pages : illustrations (some color) application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle CRISPR (Genetics)
Genome editing
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) -- Virus diseases
Plants -- Virus resistance
CRISPR/Cas
CRISPR-associated protein 9
UCTD
Spencer, Katarina Paula
CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title_full CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title_fullStr CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title_full_unstemmed CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title_short CRISPR-based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
title_sort crispr based genome editing tools for virus resistance in grapevine
topic CRISPR (Genetics)
Genome editing
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) -- Virus diseases
Plants -- Virus resistance
CRISPR/Cas
CRISPR-associated protein 9
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/126075
work_keys_str_mv AT spencerkatarinapaula crisprbasedgenomeeditingtoolsforvirusresistanceingrapevine