Rapid screening of genome edited strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) regenerants using high-resolution melting analysis followed by Amplicon sequencing

Plant transformation frequently results in large quantities of regenerant plant materials which must undergo screening prior to advancement into subsequent experiments. In-depth sequencing of such quantities for detection of editing events is costly, and preliminary selection of mutant lines based on phenotypic impacts can cause significant delays. This study aimed to develop a rapid, high-throughput workflow for early detection and genotyping of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated edits in strawberry. High-resolution analysis reliably identified lines containing distinct mutation profiles, and subsequent Amplicon sequencing genotyping confirmed the presence of editing events at the targeted sites, with editing efficiencies varying among subgenomes of octoploid strawberry. This workflow offers a scalable, low-cost solution for early detection and prioritization of genome-edited cultivated strawberry lines.