Precision bred organism release notice (reference: PBR/26/002)
Published 6 March 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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Information provided to the Secretary of State alongside a notice of intention to release a precision bred plant under schedule 1 of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025.
1. Name and address of the person proposing to release the precision bred plant
Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL
2. Description of others assisting in the release of the precision bred plant
The John Innes Centre.
3. General description of the precision bred plant
a) Genus and species
Pisum sativum L.
b) Intended alterations to characteristics of the plant
The group is investigating gynoecium development in Pisum sativum L. (garden pea) and will test the effect of this line on gynoecium growth and development in the field.
c) Types of genetic changes introduced to cause these alterations
Out-of-frame deletion leading to loss-of-function mutations of a single target gene encoding a transcription factor was obtained. Based on observations in other species (e.g. Brassicaceae) we expect the gynoecium from this precision-bred line to have polarity defects and expansion of stigma/style tissue compared to wild type plants.
d) Techniques of modern biotechnology used to make these genetic changes
The precision-bred material was produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of construct including CRISPR-Cas9-and two gRNAs. The absence of the CAS9-containing transgene has been verified.
4. Confirmation: preventing marketing
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they will put in place any necessary appropriate measures to prevent material from the precision bred plant being marketed until such time as a precision bred confirmation is issued in respect of the plant.
Confirmed
5. Confirmation: meeting precision breeding criteria
The person with overall responsibility for the release must confirm they have assessed that all plants covered by the release notice meet the criteria for a precision bred organism as set out in section 1 (2) of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
Confirmed