New Publication - Single gene mutation in a plant MYB transcription factor causes a major shift in pollinator preference

HUH Research Felllow Andrea Berardi is co-author on a new publication in Current Biology, "Single gene mutation in a plant MYB transcription factor causes a major shift in pollinator preference". The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 to knock out a gene controlling UV pigments in Petunia, and demonstrated its significance in pollinator preference by performing trials with hawkmoths and two species of bees.

Highlights

• MYB-FL mutation strongly reduces floral UV color but increases visible color
• The mutation reduces hawkmoth visitation but increases bee visitation
• Bees discriminate between mutants with small intraspecific differences in visible color
• Major shift in pollinator preference by a single mutation of large phenotypic effect

Martina N. Lüthi, Andrea E. Berardi, Therese Mandel, Loreta B. Freitas, Cris Kuhlemeier. (2022) Single gene mutation in a plant MYB transcription factor causes a major shift in pollinator preference. Current Biology, Volume 32, Issue 24, Pages 5295-5308.e5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.006.