CRISPR-Combo-mediated orthogonal genome editing and transcriptional activation for plant breeding

CRISPR-Cas nuclease systems, base editors, and CRISPR activation have greatly advanced plant genome engineering. However, the combinatorial approaches for multiplexed orthogonal genome editing and transcriptional regulation were previously unexploited in plants. We have recently established a single Cas9 protein-based CRISPR-Combo platform, enabling efficient multiplexed orthogonal genome editing (double-strand break-mediated genome editing or base editing) and transcriptional activation in plants via engineering the single guide RNA (sgRNA) structure. Here, we provide step-by-step instructions for constructing CRISPR-Combo systems for speed breeding of transgene-free, genome-edited Arabidopsis plants and enhancing rice regeneration with more heritable targeted mutations in a hormone-free manner. We also provide guidance on designing efficient sgRNA, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis and rice, rice regeneration without exogenous plant hormones, gene editing evaluation and visual identification of transgene-free Arabidopsis plants with high editing activity. With the use of this protocol, it takes ~2 weeks to establish the CRISPR-Combo systems, 4 months to obtain transgene-free genome-edited Arabidopsis plants and 4 months to obtain rice plants with enrichment of heritable targeted mutations by hormone-free tissue culture.