Fruit color is regarded as one of the most important commercial traits in
tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Different regions have different color
preferences, with pink tomatoes being popular in Asia, particularly in China
and Japan. The team of Lei Deng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences aims to
develop pink tomatoes by targeting the SlMYB12 gene, a key gene in flavonoid
accumulation in tomato.

The team used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the SlMYB12 gene in red-fruit tomato
lines. Eleven individual T0 regeneration plants were developed, 10 of which
had at least one mutated SlMYB12 allele, indicating high editing efficiency
(90.9%). All homozygous and bi-allelic mutants displayed a pink fruit
phenotype.

No off-target mutations were detected at any of the three potential
off-target sites suggesting that the sgRNAs used were specific for their
recognition sites.

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