12 Jul 2024

CRISPR-edited tomato line shows less Xanthomonas disease in Florida field trials

Biotechnology and synthetic biologyFood and agriculture
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What was demonstrated

A 2024 Plant Biotechnology Journal paper by Ortega and colleagues reports CRISPR/Cas9 edits to the tomato genes Bs5 and Bs5L in the variety Fla. 8000. Two homozygous lines, Slbs5-1 and Slbs5-2, each carry frameshift mutations in both genes. In field trials at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Florida, the plants were inoculated with a two-isolate cocktail of Xanthomonas perforans race T4 to raise disease pressure, and no bactericides or systemic acquired resistance activators were used. Line Slbs5-2 had a higher share of leaves with reduced disease symptoms than wild type in all tested seasons (Spring 2018, Fall 2019 and Fall 2023). There was no statistically significant difference in marketable fruit yield between Slbs5-2 and wild-type plants across all seasons.

Why it matters

The authors suggest that, if the reduced disease holds in other tomato varieties and growing regions, editing these genes could offer growers a bacterial disease tolerance option. They note that the resistance may be considered subtle compared with stronger known resistance sources, so its practical value is not yet clear.

Caveats

  • The field trials ran at a single site in Florida, using two edited lines derived from one tomato variety (Fla. 8000).
  • The resistance is described as subtle compared with stronger resistance sources, and the paper does not explain the mechanism.
  • The yield difference was not statistically significant. The authors describe a tendency for higher yields in the high-disease seasons as a possible correlation, not a significant effect. Fall 2022 (hurricane) and Spring 2023 (extremely dry weather) were excluded from the yield analysis.
  • The edited plants are experimental. The record does not cover regulatory status, consumer acceptance or performance under other pathogen strains.

Technology profiles

Sources

  1. peer reviewed paper
    CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of Bs5 and Bs5L in tomato leads to resistance against Xanthomonas
    Arturo Ortega, Kyungyong Seong, Alex Schultink et al.. Plant Biotechnology Journal (Wiley), 12 Jul 2024. DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14404.
  2. other
    CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of Bs5 and Bs5L in tomato leads to resistance against Xanthomonas (full text)
    Arturo Ortega, Kyungyong Seong, Alex Schultink. PubMed Central (National Library of Medicine), 12 Jul 2024.

Last reviewed 21 Oct 2026.