New CRISPR-Based Gene Switch Helps Plants Beat Heat and Disease, Paves Way for Smart Farming

New Delhi, June 25 – In a breakthrough that could redefine how crops handle environmental stress, researchers from the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a smart CRISPR-based molecular tool that enables plants to fight disease and tolerate heat—only when necessary.

The innovation leverages a modified version of the renowned CRISPR gene-editing technology called dCas9, which unlike traditional CRISPR, does not cut DNA. Instead, it acts like a switch that can turn genes on or off, but only when the plant experiences environmental stress such as high temperatures or pathogen attack.

Led by Prof. Pallob Kundu, the team introduced a heat-sensitive tethering mechanism using a tomato-derived protein segment known as TM domain from NACMTF3. This domain prevents the dCas9-based switch from entering the cell’s nucleus (control room) under normal conditions. But during heat stress, the tether releases the switch, allowing it to activate key defense or heat-response genes only when needed.

This dynamic approach makes the plant energy-efficient, activating defense mechanisms only under threat, thereby enhancing resilience without unnecessary resource drain.

The tool was successfully tested in tomatoes, potatoes, and tobacco—plants that belong to the Solanaceae family. It proved especially effective in tomatoes challenged by Pseudomonas syringae, a harmful bacterial pathogen that thrives during heatwaves.

In response to heat and infection, the CRISPR switch activated two crucial immune response genes, CBP60g and SARD1, helping the plants resist bacterial invasion. It also triggered heat-shielding genes—NAC2 and HSFA6b—that enabled plants to retain moisture, stay green, and maintain overall health under high temperatures.

With global temperatures on the rise and weather patterns becoming increasingly erratic, farmers face significant challenges in maintaining crop yields. This smart gene switch provides a precision agriculture solution that arms crops with timely stress responses, reducing dependency on chemical treatments and increasing climate resilience.

Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, the study holds potential beyond tomatoes and potatoes. The tool can be adapted to benefit other solanaceous crops like eggplants, chillies, and even commercially important vegetables, offering a path toward more sustainable, smart farming practices.

This innovation marks a significant advancement in the use of synthetic biology and CRISPR technology in agriculture. Unlike conventional genetic engineering that permanently alters a plant’s genome, this tool provides a reversible, trigger-based mechanism—much like a fire alarm that only rings when there’s danger.

As scientists continue refining this technology, its integration into field-ready solutions could empower farmers with crops that are intelligent, self-regulating, and adaptive—crucial traits for the agriculture of the future.