Circadian clock gene modification for improved adaptation of chickpea and lentil crops
Research platform leveraging CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing of circadian clock genes (ELF3, PRR, LHY/CCA1) to enable altered photoperiod responses and improved adaptation to shorter cultivation seasons in chickpea and lentils, addressing productivity challenges in these important but under-studied legume crops.
Overview
This research program targets improved adaptation and productivity of chickpea and lentil by modifying circadian clock genes to alter photoperiod responses. Photoperiod sensitivity is a major constraint limiting where these important legume crops can be cultivated, particularly in regions with shorter growing seasons. By editing key clock genes such as ELF3, PRR, and LHY/CCA1, the project aims to develop varieties with reduced photoperiodic requirements, enabling expansion into new geographies and improving yield stability.
Technical specifications
Core approach:
- Identification of orthologous circadian clock genes in chickpea and lentil through bioinformatics analysis
- CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to produce loss-of-function deletion mutations in chickpea and lentil protoplasts
- Verification of successful editing events followed by plant regeneration
- Characterization of developmental traits and photoperiodic responses in offspring
Scientific foundation:
- Prior work in pea and soybean demonstrated that altered activity of the clock gene ELF3 reduces photoperiodic responses
- An algorithmic package for gene network inference has been developed and used to map regulatory interactions among clock gene homologs in soybean
- Regulatory interactions have been experimentally validated using ChIP-qPCR, ChIP-seq, and CRISPR-Cas9 approaches
- Preliminary results show soybean ELF3 and other clock genes influence central genes controlling flowering transition
Technology readiness level
The research is currently at an early-to-mid stage of development. Bioinformatics identification of target genes and CRISPR-Cas9 editing in protoplasts is the immediate next step, with an expected timeline of approximately one year, followed by plant regeneration in another year. Phenotypic characterization of edited plants and their offspring will follow. The underlying gene network inference and editing methodologies have already been validated in soybean, providing a strong technical foundation for transfer to chickpea and lentil.
About California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a large, comprehensive public university serving the Greater Los Angeles region and among the largest in California. The university emphasizes industry-relevant, applied research and experiential learning at scale; companies engage through coordinated internships, project-based collaborations, faculty consulting, and sponsored research, supported by campus maker and prototyping facilities for rapid iteration. Its urban location in the San Fernando Valley places talent and labs within a dense network of established companies and startups across the region’s major innovation clusters. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including from NSF and NIH, alongside state and corporate sponsors. A dedicated technology transfer office provides IP management, MTAs, NDAs, and licensing.
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