Question

Match List-I with List-II

List-I (Genome edited crops approved for commercial production) & List-II (Trait)
(A) Maize & (I) High level of GABA
(B) Soybean & (II) Non-Browning
(C) Potato & (III) Waxy Starch
(D) Tomato & (IV) Oleic Acid

• (A) - (III), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)
• (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (I), (D) - (IV)
• (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (I)
• (A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (III)

Hint:

The CRISPR-edited high-GABA tomato was approved for commercial release in Japan in 2021, representing a major milestone for gene-edited food products entering consumer markets.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Genome editing technologies, primarily CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs, allow breeders to introduce precise, targeted modifications into crop genomes to improve agronomic traits, nutritional value, and storage life.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the traits and matching genome-edited crops:
1. Maize: Genome editing (via CRISPR/Cas9) has been used to knock out the gene encoding granule-bound starch synthase (*waxy* gene) in maize.
This results in Waxy Starch maize, where the starch is composed almost entirely of branched amylopectin, which is highly valued for industrial and food processing applications.
Thus, (A) matches with (III).
2. Soybean: High-oleic acid soybean varieties were developed using TALENs technology to knock out specific fatty acid desaturase genes (*FAD2*).
This modification increases the concentration of healthy Oleic Acid in the soybean oil to over $80\%$, improving its thermal stability and shelf life.
Thus, (B) matches with (IV).
3. Potato: Genome editing has been used to disrupt genes encoding polyphenol oxidase (PPO), which causes enzymatic browning when tubers are bruised or cut.
The resulting Non-Browning potato has a longer shelf life and reduces waste during processing.
Thus, (C) matches with (II).
4. Tomato: The Sicilian Rouge tomato was edited using CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out a regulatory domain of glutamate decarboxylase.
This results in the accumulation of High levels of GABA ($\gamma$-aminobutyric acid), which has been linked to reducing blood pressure. It became the first CRISPR-edited food approved for commercial sale in Japan.
Thus, (D) matches with (I).
Combining these matches, we get: (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (I).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct matching sequence is (A) - (III), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (I), which corresponds to option (C).