Multilocular silique is a desirable agricultural trait with great potential
for developing high-yield varieties of Brassica. However, no induced
multilocular mutants have been reported in canola (Brassica napus) due to
its allotetraploid nature. Yang Yang from Huazhong Agricultural University
in China has found the efficient knockout of canola homologues of CLAVATA3
(CLV3) and its related receptors, CLV1 and CLV2, in the CLV signalling
pathway using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.

The multilocular phenotype can be achieved only in knockout mutations of the
two copies of the BnCLV gene. The double mutation of BnCLV3 produced more
leaves and multilocular siliques with a significantly higher number of seeds
per silique and a higher seed weight than the wild-type and single mutant
plants, potentially contributing to increased seed production.

These findings reveal the potential of CRISPR in improving yield traits in
canola varieties.

[onlinelibrary.wiley.com]