Efficient Editing of SoCSLD2 by CRISPR/Cas9 Affects Morphogenesis of Root Hair in Spinach

CRISPR/Cas9 is a valuable tool and has been extensively employed to perform gene editing in plants. However, not successfully used spinach, an important leafy vegetable crop. Here, we established CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing system for spinach hairy roots edited two cellulose synthase-like D (CSLD) genes (SoCSLD2 SoCSLD3) that were involved root-hair formation of roots. Four mutation types (i.e., replacement, insertion, deletion, combined mutations) observed, among which the replacement accounted vast majority (about 64.1%). Mutation rate differed largely different targets. Seven homozygous/bi-allelic eight heterozygous/chimeric mutants SoCSLD2 obtained from 15 independent transgenic root lines. All seven mutant lines displayed bulking short hairs, resembled characteristics Arabidopsis atcsld2 mutants. The transcriptomic analysis further revealed multiple expressions cell-wall modulation membrane trafficking disturbed, might result inhibition hair growth socsld2 This indicates was knocked out hairs using system.