Engineering compact Physalis peruviana (goldenberry) to promote its potential as a global crop

Societal Impact Statement Goldenberry ( Physalis peruviana ) produces sweet, nutritionally rich berries, yet like many minor crops, is cultivated in limited geographical regions and has not been a focus of breeding programs for trait enhancement. Leveraging knowledge of plant architecture‐related traits from related species, we used CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene editing to generate a compact ideotype to advance future breeding efforts and agricultural production. Goldenberry growers will benefit from these compact versions because it optimizes per plot yield, facilitating larger scale production to meet rising consumer popularity and demand.