Genome editing represents a pivotal tool for advancing biological discovery and crop enhancement. However, its widespread application in crop improvement has been hindered by inefficient delivery methods and the dependence on tissue culture for generating gene-edited plants. RNA viral vectors present a promising alternative for delivering gene-editing reagents while circumventing the need for tissue culture. I have developed methods for: (1) Achieving multiplexed, heritable gene editing in tomato through viral delivery of isopentenyl transferase and single-guide RNAs to latent axillary meristematic cells; (2) Inducing heritable, multinucleotide deletions in Nicotiana benthamiana using viral delivery of a repair exonuclease and guide RNAs; and (3) Enabling heritable base editing in Arabidopsis via RNA viral vectors. These approaches are likely transferable to diverse plant species, paving the way for scalable gene editing in agriculture.
