Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 on Red Sage to boost its capability as a medicinal plant. Their research may help patients with heart disease. Red Sage, or Salvia miltiorrhiza, is a herb that is used to treat cardiovascular diseases. The plant has bioactive compounds, such as phenolic acids and diterpenoid tanshinones, which promote good health to people. However, there are genes that regulate these bioactive compounds in the plant.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Panel) has published the Scientific Opinion which reports on the outcome of its risk assessment of two genetically modified (GM) maize, DP23211 from Corteva Agriscience Belgium, and DP915635 from Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Application EFSA-GMO-NL-2019-163 under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 for maize DP23211 is for import, processing, and food and feed uses within the European Union (EU) and does not include cultivation.

Nobel laureate and CRISPR innovator Jennifer Doudna, other Nobel Prize winners, and over a thousand scientists are rallying for the benefits of new genomic techniques (NGs) to the EU and the world. They released an open letter addressed to the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in light of the upcoming parliamentary decisions regarding the regulation of NGTs in Europe.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released their review of four plants modified using genetic engineering to determine whether they posed an increased plant pest risk as relative to non-modified comparators.APHIS found that these modified plants were unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated plants and were not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340 and could be safely grown and bred in the United States.

Rice field fisheries have long been an essential part of Cambodia’s rural landscape, providing crucial sustenance and income to millions of people. With this, the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas (AMD) has been leading the charge in conducting transformative experiments aimed at harnessing the potential of rice field ponds to improve the livelihoods of rural communities and contribute to sustainable development.

Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) is responsible for high crop losses in Africa, particularly among small-scale farmers. A research team from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) has now developed rice lines that are resistant to the disease using genome editing. RYMV is an RNA virus spread by beetles and direct leaf-to-leaf contact. There is no known effective protection against the virus and the only real protection is to develop rice varieties that possess a resistance gene against RYMV.

A study published in Frontiers in Plant Science shows that editing the SlHyPRP1 and SlDEA1 genes of tomato improves its biotic and abiotic stress responses. This study has evaluated the drought, salinity, bacterial leaf spot, and bacterial wilt tolerance response of tomatoes. Tomato has long been an essential crop in different regions and countries worldwide.

Chinese researchers reviewed the current research developments about wearable sensors used to monitor plant health. Their findings showed that wearable sensors could analyze plant species and life stages. Plant health is directly related to crop quality, agricultural productivity, and food security. One way to ensure that plants are healthy is through monitoring them using wearable sensors, which provide real-time and in-situ information about physiological biomarkers. However, a thorough overview of wearable plant sensors across different aspects is currently lacking.

A study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal shows that the knockout of ORF138 has restored the fertility of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) derived broccoli hybrids. The results of this study provide significant insights into the role of mitochondria in sex production machinery and the temperature-responsive ability of vegetable crops.

Scientists have discovered a novel gene in rice that promotes root development and provides tolerance to abiotic stresses. The gene can be utilized as a molecular marker to develop rice that is tolerant to extreme environmental conditions. Root architecture and function are essential for plants to obtain water and nutrients from the soil. However, environmental stresses can affect the development of the roots.