Seed dormancy shapes gene drive dynamics in plants.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Genetics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Gene drives offer potential for managing problematic plant populations, including invasive and herbicide-resistant species.
• Engineered CRISPR gene drive systems have been experimentally demonstrated in plants.
• Plant-specific traits, particularly seed dormancy, are critical for successful field applications but often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a modelling framework for gene drives in plant populations that incorporates soil seed banks.
• To investigate the impact of seed banks on gene drive dynamics and effectiveness.
• To assess the implications of seed banks for gene drive strategies and biosafety.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive mathematical model for gene drive spread in plant populations.
• Inclusion of persistent soil seed bank dynamics within the model.
• Simulation of various gene drive scenarios to analyze spread rates, genetic load, and establishment.

Main Results:

• Seed banks can substantially slow the spread of gene drives in plant populations.
• The presence of a seed bank reduces the genetic load required for population elimination.
• Seed banks increase the introduction frequency needed for threshold-dependent gene drives, potentially hindering establishment but offering a biosafety mechanism.

Conclusions:

• Seed bank dynamics are a critical factor influencing the efficacy and spread of gene drives in plants.
• Incorporating seed-bank dynamics into modelling is essential for accurate predictions and successful field deployment of gene drive technologies.
• Seed banks can act as a natural biosafety feature, potentially confining gene drives to target populations.