The invention includes materials and methods to generate numerous small RNAs from one polynucleotide construct (synthetic gene) to facilitate RNA-guided multiplex genome editing, modification, inhibition of expression and other RNA-based technologies. The synthetic gene/polynucleotide construct encodes polycistronic RNA components separated by tRNAs, and preferably also includes regulatory components such as a promoter or terminator to form an expression cassette. Once transcribed in a cell, the transcript is processed by the cell to multiple RNA molecules by the endogenous tRNA processing system. The system can be sued for any RNA based gene manipulation method including RNA-mediated genome editing, artificial microRNA mediated gene silencing, small RNA mediated genetic manipulation, double-stranded RNA mediated gene silencing, antisense mechanisms and the like.

Provided herein are CRISPR/Cas methods and compositions for targeting RNA molecules, which can be used to detect, edit, or modify a target RNA.

The present invention provides modified (e.g. genetically modified) plant cells and plants, the plants being characterised by an increase in any one or more of: bundle sheath cell numbers, bundle sheath volume, bundle sheath area, vein density, and/or the proportion of lateral veins, as compared to wild-type counterparts.

The present invention is in the field of genome editing and is directed to a method for the seam-less introduction of targeted precise modifications in genomic DNA of wheat.

The present application is directed to lettuce plants comprising a mutation in each of at least two different PPO genes, where said mutations reduce the activity of PPO protein compared to a wild type lettuce plant. The present application is also directed to methods for making such lettuce plants.

This invention relates to compositions and methods for modifying Homologous to E6AP C-Terminus (HECT) E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase (UPL) genes in plants, optionally to improve yield traits. The invention further relates to plants having increased improved yield traits produced using the methods and compositions of the invention.

Provided are compositions comprising polynucleotides encoding modified MFT polypeptides. Also provided are recombinant DNA constructs, plants, plant cells, seed, and grain comprising the polynucleotides. Additionally, methods using the polynucleotides in plants to increase seed oil and/or protein content are also provided herein.

The disclosure provides novel corn, tomato, and soybean U6, U3, U2, U5, and 7SL snRNA promoters which are useful for CRISPR/Cas-mediated targeted gene modifications in plants. The disclosure also provides methods for use for U6, U3, U2, U5, and 7SL promoters in driving expression of sgRNA polynucleotides which function in a CRISPR/Cas system of targeted gene modification in plants. The disclosure also provides methods of genome modification by insertion of blunt-end DNA fragments at a site of genomic cleavage.

Compositions and methods are provided for introducing transgenic target sites for Site Specific Integration (SSI) and/or polynucleotides of interest into at least one double-strand break target site of a double-strand-break inducing agent in a genomic window of a plant genome. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing a complex trait locus in a genomic window of a plant comprising at least one transgenic target site for site specific integration integrated in at least double-strand-break target site. The double-strand-break target site can be, but is not limited to, a target site for a zinc finger endonuclease, an engineered endonuclease, a meganuclease, a TALENs and/or a Cas endonuclease. The genomic window of said plant can comprise at least one genomic locus of interest such as a trait cassette, a transgene, a mutated gene, a native gene, an edited gene or a site-specific integration (SSI) target site.

The present invention relates to a mutant Cullin1 gene which when present in a watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plant leads to a compact growth phenotype that enables efficient cultivation. The invention also relates to watermelon plants comprising the mutant Cullin1 gene. The mutant Cullin1 gene provides watermelon plants with a compact growth phenotype, i.e. comprising shorter internode length and/or a smaller leaf area when compared to watermelon plants not comprising the mutant Cullin1 gene. The invention further relates to the use of the mutant Cullin1 gene for the identification and development of a plant showing a compact growth phenotype.