BREEDING OF BROCCOLI FOR MUCH ENHANCED RESISTANCE TO MULTI-ABIOTIC STRESSES WITH SIGNIFICANTLY PROLONGED POSTHARVEST LIFE

This proposed research is closely related to the emphasis areas of "Agricultural Environmental Management", "Food Safety and Producers/Processors/Retailers/Food Service Providers" and "Climate change". The overall objectives are to produce new broccoli germplasm that will be much resistant to multi-abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, heat, cold, and darkness with significantly prolonged postharvest life. The specific research objectives are as follows:1. To identify BoNAP gene;2. To design target sequences for genome editing in broccoli using CRISPR/CAS9 system;3. To establish broccoli transformation system and use the system to transform broccoli with the constructed CRISPR/CAS9 plasmids;4. To identify broccoli lines with BoNAP sequence edited (bonap knockouts) by sequencing target genomic DNA of the transformed broccoli.