Understanding the Next Technology Wave in Strawberry Kevin M. Folta Professor and Chairman

1. Understanding the Next Technology Wave in Strawberry Kevin M. Folta Professor and Chairman Horticultural Sciences Department kfolta.blogspot.com @kevinfolta kfolta@ufl.edu www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com

2. Dr. Chip Hinton FSGA Support = $1800 2003 Sequenced 1800 strawberry gene sequences At the time the available genetic information was 54 sequences

3. Very little information, no parts list! • Where do we start modernizing tools in strawberry?

4. 2002 54 gene sequences • ~ 2000 gene sequences (1853 UF) • 2006 ~ 3000 gene dense regions (USDA grant w/UNH $450,000) • ~ 20,000 gene sequences (~10,000 UF, $1.2 M NSF grant) • Entire genome sequenced • We had an entire parts list of a simple, woodland strawberry. • How do we connect the genes to the traits they control?

5. The Strawberry Genome- a parts list of our favorite crop! To print the genome on paper it would take 83,300 pieces of paper (15 miles)

6. 2002 54 gene sequences • ~ 2000 gene sequences (1853 UF) • 2006 ~ 3000 gene dense regions (USDA grant w/UNH $450,000) • ~ 20,000 gene sequences (~10,000 UF, $1.2 M NSF grant) • Entire genome sequenced • 2018 We have a comprehensive list of genes related to disease and flavor

7. How do we make a better strawberry? Traditional Breeding No lab, variation natural Marker Assisted Breeding Lab, variation natural Genetic Engineering Lab, traits introduced Gene Editing Lab, traits match natural ones, or not Epigenetic Effects, Lab, releases new traits

8. What is Gene Editing?

9. Gene editing will revolutionize medicine and agriculture, eventually. You must understand what it is, and support it in discussion with policymakers.

10. Technology is exploding, all over the world!

11. Technical Explosion – Development and Regulation Sweden and The Netherlands do not see why these would be regulated. USDA appears to be in a similar situation- not “regulated articles” (plants) Can supply “non-GMO” food demands New Zealand, US Organic standards say these are “GMO” China invested $4 Billion in this technology

12. A library contains massive amounts of information, stored as individual books. To change the information, you can add new information by adding a new book. You can remove information by removing a book.

13. The DNA in a cell contains massive amounts of information, stored as individual genes. To change the information, you can add new information by adding a new gene. You can remove information by removing a gene.

14. This is how we have to think about standard genetic engineering techniques. • Add Bt –insect resistance • Add glyphosate tolerance • Add glufosinate tolerance • Add information to suppress viruses

15. What is we went into the library and could change the meaning of a book by erasing (or adding) a few extra letters?

16. What if we could go into the DNA of a cell and change the information in a gene by erasing (or adding) a few letters? .

19. The Gene Editing Revolution CRISPR- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

20. Applications

21. Gene Editing

23. Strawberry? Eliminate gene variants that: • Cause disease susceptibility • Suppress flowering • Limit size • Cause softening • Contribute to off flavors • Attract nematodes

24. Epigenetic Effects

25. Genes are held off based on their organization.

26. If we can make this process sloppy, can we create new traits in existing cultivars? This is possible in strawberry because it is not seed propagated– offspring made by runners. All runners will match the traits of the maternal plant. Sweet Charlie

27. Thank you Craig Chandler Chip Hinton Natalia Peres Vance Whitaker Songhee Lee Alan Chamers Jeremy Pillet Chris Barbey Dozens of students and postdocs Kevin Folta kfolta@ufl.edu Talking Biotech Podcast www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com @kevinfolta Funding:FSGA FDACS USDA NSF NIH

28. “Don’t tell me it can’t be done, tell me what needs to be done and help me do it.”