Good news for the world of agriculture and potentially your breakfast bowl: scientists in Siberia have achieved a significant breakthrough in crop science. Researchers at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IC&G SB RAS) have developed a novel method utilizing genetic editing that promises to drastically accelerate the creation of improved barley varieties. Presented at the VIII International Scientific Conference `Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics and Plant Biotechnology` (PlantGen2025), their findings suggest a potential speed-up of more than four times compared to traditional breeding methods.
Breaking Down the Method: Molecular Scissors Get an Upgrade
The core of the new technique builds upon the well-known “molecular scissors” – a term often used to describe gene editing systems like CRISPR-Cas, which allow scientists to make precise cuts and changes to an organism`s DNA. While powerful, applying this method effectively to commercial barley varieties has faced challenges. One major hurdle is the plant`s ability to regenerate from modified cells in a lab setting (in vitro culture), a trait that varies significantly between different barley cultivars based on their specific genetic makeup.
To overcome this limitation, the Siberian team introduced a clever enhancement. They incorporated a complex of genes, specifically GRF4-GIF1, sourced from wheat plants. These genes are known to regulate plant growth and development. By adding this “regeneration booster” from wheat, the scientists significantly improved the barley plants` capacity to successfully regrow after undergoing genetic modification.
Valuable Mutations, Achieved Rapidly
The results are already tangible. Using this enhanced method, the IC&G researchers have successfully created lines of hulless barley exhibiting valuable traits, namely increased protein and amino acid content. As Ekaterina Timonova, a research fellow at the IC&G SB RAS Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics of Plants, explained, this type of barley is highly promising for producing groats and animal feed. Its hulless nature means less processing waste, and the elevated protein content boosts its nutritional value – a win-win for efficiency and quality.
Success rates in gene modification using standard methods on these particular barley varieties were previously zero. With the new wheat-gene-enhanced approach, the scientists achieved a successful modification frequency of 3.8% – a seemingly small number, perhaps, but infinitely better than none, marking a critical step forward.
Leaving Traditional Breeding in the Dust
Perhaps the most striking outcome is the impact on the breeding timeline. Traditionally, developing a new barley variety with a specific desirable trait through cross-breeding and selection could take anywhere from six to eight years. The new genetic editing method slashes this timeframe dramatically. As Timonova highlighted, “Using the developed method, we were able to artificially edit the genome of several barley varieties and obtain lines with a beneficial mutation practically immediately (within a year and a half).” Think about that – swapping six to eight years of careful crosses and selections for a year and a half in the lab and test fields. It`s the kind of speed upgrade that makes traditional methods look, well, a little quaint.
These accelerated results are crucial for the future of barley breeding programs. The ability to directly edit genes in elite, high-performing varieties bypasses the laborious stages of hybridization and self-pollination that are cornerstones of conventional breeding. This is especially vital for quickly developing varieties tailored to thrive in different and often challenging climatic zones around the world.
Looking ahead, the team plans to leverage this efficient new method to improve other critical barley traits. According to Timonova, the focus will expand to include traits such as resistance to environmental stresses and further enhancement of the grain`s nutritional qualities. This research is supported as part of the `Kurchatov Genomic Center` program, aimed at creating world-class genomic research facilities.
By significantly reducing the time required to introduce valuable genetic improvements, this Siberian innovation holds substantial promise for enhancing global food security and making the process of agricultural innovation far more responsive to changing needs and environmental conditions.
