Researchers Developed CRISPR-Combo for Plant Growth

A new gene-editing system has significantly boosted plant regeneration rates in both potatoes and citrus crops.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Life Sciences

Isometric editorial illustration of a single green potato sprout emerging from a glass laboratory beaker. — Researchers have introduced the CRISPR-Combo system, a gene-editing method that accelerates plant regeneration in crops like potatoes and citrus. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe gene-edited crops are a necessary development for the future of food security?

Scientists have introduced the CRISPR-Combo system, which edits genes while simultaneously activating internal morphogenic genes to accelerate plant regeneration. This method provides a more reliable way to grow edited cells into whole plants.

Why it matters

The regeneration of edited cells into mature plants has historically been a slow and unreliable process, posing a significant hurdle for agricultural biotechnology. By activating a plant's own growth-promoting genes, this system offers a more efficient alternative to inserting external DNA.

Researchers screened 17 candidate genes in potatoes and 10 in citrus using a high-throughput hairy root system. The study identified four genes for potato improvement and five for citrus, achieving regeneration efficiencies of up to 70% and 80% respectively.

The players

Texas A&M AgriLife Research

This agricultural research agency is part of the Texas A&M University System and focuses on developing solutions for food and natural resource challenges.

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland is a public research university that collaborates on various scientific and agricultural studies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing laws related to farming, forestry, and food.

The details

The CRISPR-Combo system streamlines genetic modification by triggering the plant's existing biological pathways rather than introducing foreign growth factors. This targeted approach was validated through extensive screening of candidate genes to optimize shoot production in laboratory environments.

September 28, 2026: The CRISPR-Combo study was published.

The Big Picture

This advancement follows the pattern set by the development of standard CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, offering a refined tool to overcome existing bottlenecks in plant science.

This breakthrough could lead to faster development of heartier, more resilient crop varieties for farmers. By reducing the time and failure rate of plant regeneration, it may eventually lower the costs associated with producing genetically improved produce.

The takeaway

The CRISPR-Combo system successfully demonstrates that activating internal plant genes can bypass traditional growth limitations. Researchers can now apply this strategy to further enhance the reliability of lab-to-field transitions for various crop species.