Plant Biosystems Design Research Roadmap 1.0

Human life intimately depends on plants for food,biomaterials,health,energy,and a sustainable environment.Various plants have been genetically improved mostly through breeding,along with limited modification via genetic engineering,yet they are still not able to meet the ever-increasing needs,in terms of both quantity and quality,resulting from the rapid increase in world population and expected standards of living.A step change that may address these challenges would be to expand the potential of plants using biosystems design approaches.This represents a shift in plant science research from relatively simple trial-and-error approaches to innovative strategies based on predictive models of biological systems.Plant biosystems design seeks to accelerate plant genetic improvement using genome editing and genetic circuit engineering or create novel plant systems through de novo synthesis of plant genomes.From this perspective,we present a comprehensive roadmap of plant biosystems design covering theories,principles,and technical methods,along with potential applications in basic and applied plant biology research.We highlight current challenges,future opportunities,and research priorities,along with a framework for international collaboration,towards rapid advancement of this emerging interdisciplinary area of research.Finally,we discuss the importance of social responsibility in utilizing plant biosystems design and suggest strategies for improving public perception,trust,and acceptance.

Biological and Molecular Components for Genetically Engineering Biosensors in Plants

Plants adapt to their changing environments by sensing and responding to physical,biological,and chemical stimuli.Due to their sessile lifestyles,plants experience a vast array of external stimuli and selectively perceive and respond to specific signals.By repurposing the logic circuitry and biological and molecular components used by plants in nature,genetically encoded plant-based biosensors(GEPBs)have been developed by directing signal recognition mechanisms into carefully assembled outcomes that are easily detected.GEPBs allow for in vivo monitoring of biological processes in plants to facilitate basic studies of plant growth and development.GEPBs are also useful for environmental monitoring,plant abiotic and biotic stress management,and accelerating design-build-test-learn cycles of plant bioengineering.With the advent of synthetic biology,biological and molecular components derived from alternate natural organisms(e.g.,microbes)and/or de novo parts have been used to build GEPBs.In this review,we summarize the framework for engineering different types of GEPBs.We then highlight representative validated biological components for building plant-based biosensors,along with various applications of plant-based biosensors in basic and applied plant science research.Finally,we discuss challenges and strategies for the identification and design of biological components for plant-based biosensors.

Biological Parts for Plant Biodesign to Enhance Land-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal

A grand challenge facing society is climate change caused mainly by rising CO_(2) concentration in Earth’s atmosphere.Terrestrial plants are linchpins in global carbon cycling,with a unique capability of capturing CO_(2) via photosynthesis and translocating captured carbon to stems,roots,and soils for long-term storage.However,many researchers postulate that existing land plants cannot meet the ambitious requirement for CO_(2) removal to mitigate climate change in the future due to low photosynthetic efficiency,limited carbon allocation for long-term storage,and low suitability for the bioeconomy.To address these limitations,there is an urgent need for genetic improvement of existing plants or construction of novel plant systems through biosystems design(or biodesign).Here,we summarize validated biological parts(e.g.,protein-encoding genes and noncoding RNAs)for biological engineering of carbon dioxide removal(CDR)traits in terrestrial plants to accelerate land-based decarbonization in bioenergy plantations and agricultural settings and promote a vibrant bioeconomy.Specifically,we first summarize the framework of plant-based CDR(e.g.,CO_(2) capture,translocation,storage,and conversion to value-added products).Then,we highlight some representative biological parts,with experimental evidence,in this framework.Finally,we discuss challenges and strategies for the identification and curation of biological parts for CDR engineering in plants.