NIC1 cloning and gene editing generates low‐nicotine tobacco plants

Competitor is 1000× concentrated probe without biotin labelling. (i, j) ERF199 causes significant induction of Luciferase reporter driven by the PMT2 (i) or QPT (j) promoters in tobacco BY-2 protoplasts. (k) qRT-PCR reveals downregulation in LA and root specificity of ERF199. (l) Introduction of an ‘A’-insertion (red asterisk) into NIC1 in HI by gene editing causes a premature stop codon. (m) Loss of ERF199 function dramatically reduces alkaloid levels in HI at T1. [...]alkaloid content was barely discernible in Mut-T1 plants (n = 35); approximately 1/10 of that in LA plants (Figure 1m). [...]manipulation of the NIC1 gene provides a new strategy for nicotine control. Constitutive expression of ERF199 caused increased nicotine levels, and disruption of ERF199 function in the absence of NIC2 dramatically reduced nicotine accumulation in leaves. [...]genetic regulation of nicotine levels in tobacco plants can be achieved by manipulating the NIC1 gene.