Chromosomal rearrangements in outcrossed ida-2 mutants
We have found evidence for chromosomal translocations and additional uncharacterised T-DNA insertions in the ida-2 line. These previously unnoticed genomic features have a deleterious impact on gametogenesis when ida-2 plants are crossed to plants with a regular genomic architecture, resulting in substantial reproductive defects and genetic linkage between different chromosomes. As a alternative to the ida-2 line we have generated a CRISPR-Cas9 mutant line with a single nucleotide insertion in the 34th codon of IDA, named idaCr. This mutation results in a frameshift that impedes translation of the mature IDA peptide. We thus hope our findings will prove useful in warning the community on the use of the ida-2 line and welcome the idaCr mutant as a safer alternative to future genetic work in abscission and peptide signalling studies.