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R E A D O N L I N E fl oristsreview.com R E A D O N L I N E 63 L ate in 2017, science journals reported that Japanese researchers had genetically manipulated morning glories, altering a single gene to turn violet- colored fl owers white. e technology they used? e genetic editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, invented by American Dr. Jennifer Doudna of U.C. Berkeley. CRISPR: How it Works Very simply, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) snips the threads that hold blocks of DNA in sequence. When you fi nd the precise trait you wish to alter, you snip the threads and replace it with a modifi ed version. In practice, CRISPR behaves much like a Word editor. You fi nd the DNA you want to change and "cut and paste" with the DNA you want to replace with. Or, you delete a sequence, with the intent that this changes the biological behavior of the organism. For example, let's say we fi nd a gene pathway that controls ethylene vulnerability or one that relates to leaf yellowing. If we could turn those genetic sequences off , we could eliminate a couple of major problems in the fl oral world. And we could have an entirely new tool in the box to help fl owers last longer and remain healthy, even as our industry grapples with evolving retail channels, new shipping methods and ever-increasing distances from farm to consumer. CRISPR Versus GMOs CRISPR does not produce GMOs (as defi ned by USDA). A Genetically Modifi ed Organism involves the insertion of foreign DNA into a genetic sequence. CRISPR, on the other hand, modifi es the plant's own internal DNA sequences. GMOs are heavily regulated, and the research/commercial costs are prohibitive. As a result, there was never much fl oral GMO research. ese days, the USDA, which regulates GMOs, has decided not to regulate CRISPR. In the United States, this greatly reduces the costs incurred in CRISPR research. e Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) takes a diff erent view : Alteration is alteration and shall be regulated. us, Crisper in Europe is considered GMO. e Ornamental Industry Responds Today, top breeders and technology fi rms are partnering for production and commercialization. When you consider that most of us had barely heard of CRISPR three years ago, its progress has been impressive. Back then, although you had to connect several dots to "get it," you could tell it had promise. Doubters pointed out CRISPR's "single- pathway" limitations, but advocates knew these could be overcome in time. Commitment to Research One key to its progress has been the fl ower industry's willingness to support CRISPR research. Even in those early days, CRISPR's lower costs were already evident. e American Floral Endowment's (AFE) Technology Committee saw an opportunity to achieve signifi cant bang for the buck. It quickly added CRISPR to its roster of allowable projects, and the grant money began to fl ow. For ornamentals, which had been absent from signifi cant GMO research, it was a shot in the arm. Today, there are several CRISPR studies in progress, with more in the pipeline. e Future Of course, the science is still developing. e morning-glory team managed to highlight CRISPR's strength (isolating a single gene) while also pointing out a major limitation: Many traits that you would wish to alter may involve altering several genetic sequences at once. Meanwhile, research answers questions and asks new ones. What if we turn off ethylene and somehow prevent bud opening or bring about some other adverse condition? Every time you change something, you need to make sure that any positive result outweighs the negative eff ects (usually no free lunch in biology). Finally, how will these changes aff ect a fl oral industry that has been built on "the way things are"? If the biology of fl owers changes, we will be forced to adjust our thinking and our products. Fortunately, this is a business that has always seen the unknown as an opportunity. And with research, healthy competition and the support of industry drivers like AFE, we can turn opportunity into success! CRISPR: e Flower of the Future By Jim Daly, AAF, M.B.A., M.S., VP of FloraLife & Research at Smithers-Oasis/FloraLife For example, let's say we fi nd a gene pathway that controls ethylene vulnerability or one that relates to leaf yellowing. If we could turn those genetic sequences off , we could eliminate a couple of major problems in the fl oral world. And we could have an entirely new tool in the box to help fl owers last longer and remain healthy, even as our industry grapples with evolving retail channels, new shipping methods and ever-increasing distances from farm to consumer.

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