The PGTF is directed by Myeong-Je Cho and located in UC Berkeley’s Innovative Genomics Institute Building. PGTF staff have established efficient transformation and genome editing protocols for an array of major crop species. The facility collaborates with members of the IGI, industry partners, and the local research community.
The PGTF continues to:
The PGTF has genome editing and genetic transformation capabilities in over 30 major crop plants and is continually building our repertoire. Please contact the PGTF if you have any questions about our capabilities.
Crops currently involved in PGTF projects | Additional crops within PGTF capabilities |
Tomato | Arabidopsis |
Cassava | Potato |
Cacao | Cotton |
Broccoli | Soybean |
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) | Sugarcane |
Nicotiana benthamiana | Triticale |
Pepper (Capsicum) | Barley |
Rice | Oat |
Corn | Turf/forage grass |
Wheat | And more... |
Banana | |
Sorghum |
Barnum CR, Cho M-J, Markel K, and Shih PM. ACS Synthetic Biology
(2024)Karavolias NG, Patel-Tupper D, Seong K, Tjahjadi M, Gueorguieva G, Tanaka J, Cruz AG, Lieberman S, Litvak L, Dahlbeck D, Cho MJ, Niyogi KN, and Staskawicz BJ. Plant Physiology
(2023)Gomez MA, Berkoff KC, Gill BK, Iavarone AT, Lieberman SE, Ma JM, Schultink A, Karavolias NG, Wyman SK, Chauhan RD, Taylor NJ, Staskawicz BJ, Cho MJ, Rokhsar DS, and Lyons BJ. Frontiers in Plant Science
(2023)Poddar S, Tanaka J, Running KLD, Kariyawasam GK, Faris JD, Friesen TL, Cho M-J, Cate JHD, and Staskawicz B. Frontiers in Plant Science
(2023)Tanaka J, Minkenberg B, Poddar S, Staskawicz B, and Cho MJ. Genes (Basel)
(2022)Jones J, Zhang E, Tucker D, Rietz D, Dahlbeck D, Gomez M, Garcia C, Marelli JP, Livingstone III D, Schnell R, Staskawicz B, and Cho MJ. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant
(2021)Poddar S, Tanaka J, Cate JHD, Staskawicz B, and Cho M-J. Plant Methods
(2020)See the full list of Myeong-Je Cho's publications.
To learn about open positions at the IGI and PGTF, see our Careers page.
For any inquiries about the PGTF's ongoing work or potential partnerships, please contact Myeong-Je Cho at mjcho1223@berkeley.edu.