Disrupting single enzyme gene in herb red perilla produces green plants with enriched health-promoting molecules

edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin

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Add as preferred source Genome-edited perilla plants (left) showing a striking color change from red to green and enhanced accumulation of the health-promoting flavonoid luteolin. Credit: Matsushita et al., Hiroshima Prefectural Technology Research Institute Hiroshima University researchers have used genome editing to transform red perilla into a green look-alike and simultaneously restructured the plant's chemistry to boost levels of compounds prized for their potential health benefits. The findings point to a new strategy for developing high-value crops for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The study was published in Frontiers in Plant Science .