Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce knockout mutation for reducing the accumulation of raffinose content and improving soybean seed quality, in which:
- Identify galactinol synthase encoding gene sequences of Vietnamese elite cultivar.
- Successfully design transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 vector and validate the efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 vector contruct in inducing targeted deletions.
- Construct the CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated mutant procedure of soybean with 83% of induced mutation efficienccy.
- Generate potential homozygous double targeted mutant lines.

- Theoretical results: For soybean, this is the first study successfully utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce targeted mutations of galactinol synthase encoding genes in the world. This result provides initial data to further studies of carbohydrate biosynthesis in soybean and other plants. In addition, this study partly demonstrates the role and interaction among carbohydrate biosynthesis-related encoding genes. The results are summarized and accepted to publish on Frontiers In Plant Sciences. This is also the first successful study in Vietnamese soybean genome editing in using the CRISPR/Cas9 system as result in the potential applications for soybean breeding.
-  Applied results:
Soybean seeds are not only protein source for animal feed but also widely used in food industry. However, it has been showed that high content of raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) in soybean seed caused the indigestion and reducing nutritional absorbance efficiency. Thus, in most recent years, reducing RFOs content in soybean seed is studying for improvement of soybean seed quality. Our study provides mutant soybean lines which have reduced RFOs content and increased digestible carbohydrates in seed in compared with wild type. This is potential source in crop breeding and feed production.
Furthermore, soybean production has met below 10% of a demand for domestic consumption in Vietnam. The restriction of cultivated area, breed quality, and low price are said to have an effect on the production level. The success of genetic modify in DT26 cultivar is an initial result for utilizing genetic techniques, genome editing technology in the breed improvement of Vietnamese soybean cultivar and its yield. The health effects of targeted mutant soybean on consumers are increased. Therefore, the efficiency of soybean production and feed industry is improved, and thus, the cultivated area of soybean is scaled up by farmers.

This is the first study successfully utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 system to induce targeted mutations of galactinol synthase encoding genes in the world. Potential homozygous mutant lines are developed and investigated in combination with other organizations for plant breed testing and development. Products of this study are also used as material for good trait cross-breeding which serves food and feeds industrial requirement. It is also a premise of further research on other important traits in soybean.

- Scientific papers in referred journals (list):
Tran Thi Hoa, Ly Khanh Linh, Ta Thi Dong, Bui Phuong Thao, Tran Thi Truong, Chu Hoang Ha, Pham Bich Ngoc, Do Tien Phat, 2020, “Research of infectious possibility of some strains of fungus isolated from soybean leavess infected powdery mildew”, The 19th National conference of the Vietnamese Phytopathological Society, p.127-134.
Huy Le, Nhung Hong Nguyen, Dong Thi Ta, Thao Nhu Le, Thao Phuong Bui, Ngoc Thu Le, Cuong Xuan Nguyen, Hardy Rolletschek, Gary Stacey, Minviluz G Stacey, Ngoc Bich Pham, Phat Tien Do, Ha Hoang Chu, 2020, “CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of galactinol synthase-encoding genes reduces raffinose family oligosaccharide levels in soybean seeds”, Accepted manuscript in Frontiers in Plant Science, section Plant Biotechnology.
- Technological products: The CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated mutant procedure of soybean.