Researchers at the University of Calgary usedgene editingtechnology to
develop a shorter, highly branched canolavariety with more pods and
easier to harvest. This improvement is based on the needs of canola
producers.

This type of canola is 34 percent shorter than the average height of
canola plants. Decreasing the height of the plant is intended for
minimizing lodging. It is difficult to control the height of canola,
thus it is prone to lodging. The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 technology
and targeted the strigolactone hormone, which is responsible for turning
off branching in the plant. They used molecular scissors to knock out
receptors that perceive strigolactone.

The gene-edited canola was not intended for commercial use. However, it
served as a proof of concept to be tested in the germplasm of seed
companies to check if there would be a yield increase.

Scientists Develop Shorter Canola to Minimize Lodging- Crop Biotech
Update (February 2, 2022) | ISAAA.org
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