Gene Editing Technology Targets Citrus Greening and Much More
Gene Editing Technology Targets Citrus Greening and Much More
https://centralfloridaagnews.com/gene-editing-technology-targets-citrus-greening-and-much-more/
Publish Date: 2026-05-06 16:28:00
Source Domain: centralfloridaagnews.com
A research project focused on long-term, high-tech results using gene editing technology and aimed at bolstering the industry’s fight against greening and beyond is underway and could have implications for all of Florida’s crops, not just citrus.
Dr. Heqiang “Alfred” Huo is an associate professor of ornamental plant breeding at the University of Florida and lead researcher of the Plant Transformation Team at the Crop Transformation Center (CTC) in Gainesville. Founded in 2023, the CTC develops research projects that focus on improvement across all major crops grown in Florida.
Huo’s team uses a comprehensive approach to understand and improve the genetics of ornamental and specialty crops, incorporating genetics, genomics, molecular biology and biotechnology to improve plant performance.
The CTC partnered with the Florida Department of Citrus and the Citrus Research and Development Foundation in Lake Alfred to focus on creating citrus varieties that can tolerate or resist citrus greening disease.
Huo’s background is mainly in ornamentals, and his extensive research has focused on plant transformation methodology and gene editing across many different species, including crops like tomatoes and lettuce, as well as ornamental plants like violets, petunias and marigolds.
The main barrier in gene editing, according to Huo, is twofold: First, how to deliver the CRISPR reagents into the plant cells, and how to regenerate those cells into whole plants.
There are several approaches to accomplishing this. The most widely used and reproducible, according to Huo, is Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Viral vectors are another delivery method, though with a little less consistent result. Nanoparticle delivery is the third method, though it is still developing. “It helps to think of these delivery methods like vehicles: Agrobacterium is a big bus, while viral vectors are a smaller bus,” says Huo. “Nanoparticles are another…
