Genome editing is a powerful tool for improving the agronomic traits of polyploid crops such as wheat (Triticum aestivum) by simultaneously generating mutations in multiple homoeologs. However, improvements in cultivars that are amenable to transformation (and thus genome editing) must be tested in region‐specific cultivars under field conditions. Grain dormancy helps ensure the appropriate timing of germination and strong dormancy helps prevent preharvest sprouting. We previously introduced mutations in all three homoeologs of quantitative trait locus for seed dormancy1 (Qsd1) in the wheat cultivar Fielder using genome editing and showed that this triple qsd1 mutant had strengthened grain dormancy under laboratory conditions. In this study, we introduced the triple qsd1 mutation into two Japanese cultivars, Tamaizumi and Tamaizumi R, by recurrent backcrossing. As in Fielder, the triple qsd1 mutation also altered grain dormancy in the Tamaizumi and Tamaizumi R genetic backgrounds under laboratory conditions. To evaluate the mutation's effect on grain dormancy in the field, we conducted field trials in two areas in Japan and assessed the dormancy of the harvested grains. This is the first report of field trials of genome‐edited wheat in Japan. Our findings demonstrate the importance of such trials for evaluating grain dormancy, which is influenced by environmental conditions.

中文翻译：

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小麦 （Triticum aestivum） qsd1 三重突变体田间条件下籽粒休眠的评价


基因组编辑是通过同时在多个同源物中产生突变来改善小麦 （Triticum aestivum） 等多倍体作物的农艺性状的有力工具。然而，必须在田间条件下在区域特异性品种中测试适合转化（以及基因组编辑）的品种的改进。谷物休眠有助于确保适当的发芽时间，而强休眠有助于防止收获前发芽。我们之前使用基因组编辑在小麦品种 Fielder 中种子休眠 1 （Qsd1） 的数量性状位点的所有三个同源物中引入了突变，并表明这个三重 QSD1 突变体在实验室条件下增强了谷物休眠。在这项研究中，我们通过递归回交将三重 qsd1 突变引入两个日本品种 Tamaizumi 和 Tamaizumi R。与 Fielder 一样，在实验室条件下，三重 qsd1 突变也改变了 Tamaizumi 和 Tamaizumi R 遗传背景中的谷物休眠。为了评估突变对田间谷物休眠的影响，我们在日本的两个地区进行了田间试验，并评估了收获谷物的休眠。这是日本基因组编辑小麦田间试验的首次报告。我们的研究结果表明，此类试验对于评估受环境条件影响的谷物休眠的重要性。