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Journals / Journal of Agricultural Sciences / 2026 / Volume: 32 Issue: 2

CRISPR/Cas12a Ribonucleoprotein Complexes Target Conserved WDV Sequences: An In Vitro Proof-of-Concept for Non-GMO Antiviral Strategy

Buse Baran(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-8279-8519
Tarık Teymur(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-7442-9446
Ali Ferhan Morca(ZİRAİ MÜCADELE MERKEZ ARAŞTIRMA ENSTİTÜSÜ MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ)0000-0002-7480-922X
Muhsin Konuk(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-6651-718X
Beyza Aydın(USKUDAR UNIVERSITY)0009-0000-1230-6785
Cihan Taştan(ÜSKÜDAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-4173-6634
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-03-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This approach has potential applications for managing WDV infections in wheat and barley, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop globally, but its yield and quality are significantly affected by viral diseases, particularly the Wheat Dwarf virus (WDV).
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Key Findings & Data:Developing antiviral strategies is crucial for enhancing wheat productivity.
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Conclusion & Impact:This approach has potential applications for managing WDV infections in wheat and barley, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Wheat Dwarf Virus · CRISPR/Cas12a · Antiviral Agent

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple crop globally, but its yield and quality are significantly affected by viral diseases, particularly the Wheat Dwarf virus (WDV). Developing antiviral strategies is crucial for enhancing wheat productivity. This study aims to investigate the use of CRISPR/Cas12a as an antiviral agent against WDV without requiring genetic modification of the host plants. A total of 10 WDV isolates from wheat and barley collected across six provinces in Türkiye, along with four reference isolates from Hungary, Sweden, and Iran, were analysed. The study demonstrates selective cleavage of conserved WDV regions by CRISPR/Cas12a RNPs in vitro, representing an early proof-of-concept for non-GMO antiviral approaches rather than a direct field application. The designed gRNAs effectively induced DNA cleavage in WDV genomes, with gRNA1 showing consistent performance across all tested isolates. gRNA2 exhibited variability, successfully targeting seven out of ten isolates. No off-target effects were observed in control assays, confirming the specificity of the gRNAs. The CRISPR/Cas12a system, guided by specifically designed gRNAs, can effectively target and cleave WDV genomes, providing a potent, non-GMO antiviral strategy. This approach has potential applications for managing WDV infections in wheat and barley, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness.

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Cite This Article

Baran, B., Teymur, T., Morca, A. F., Konuk, M., Aydın, B., Taştan, C. (2026). CRISPR/Cas12a Ribonucleoprotein Complexes Target Conserved WDV Sequences: An In Vitro Proof-of-Concept for Non-GMO Antiviral Strategy. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume: 32 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1712124

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