biostudies-literatureUnknown20(11)Herath DPhosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) genes regulate flowering and architecture in many plant species. Here, we study kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis, Ac) PEBP genes with homology to BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT). CRISPR-Cas9 was used to target AcBFT genes in wild-type and fast-flowering kiwifruit backgrounds. The editing construct was designed to preferentially target AcBFT2, whose expression is elevated in dormant buds. Acbft lines displayed an evergrowing phenotype and increased branching, while control plants established winter dormancy. The evergrowing phenotype, encompassing delayed budset and advanced budbreak after defoliation, was identified in multiple independent lines with edits in both alleles of AcBFT2. RNA-seq analyses conducted using buds from gene-edited and controPlant biotechnology journal2064-2076https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9616528biostudies-literatureCRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of kiwifruit BFT genes results in an evergrowing but not early flowering phenotype.PMC9616528Allan ACVarkonyi-Gasic EVoogd CYang BPutterill JHerath DMayo-Smith MfalseCRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of kiwifruit BFT genes results in an evergrowing but not early flowering phenotype.Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) genes regulate flowering and architecture in many plant species. Here, we study kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis, Ac) PEBP genes with homology to BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT). CRISPR-Cas9 was used to target AcBFT genes in wild-type and fast-flowering kiwifruit backgrounds. The editing construct was designed to preferentially target AcBFT2, whose expression is elevated in dormant buds. Acbft lines displayed an evergrowing phenotype and increased branching, while control plants established winter dormancy. The evergrowing phenotype, encompassing delayed budset and advanced budbreak after defoliation, was identified in multiple independent lines with edits in both alleles of AcBFT2. RNA-seq analyses conducted using buds from gene-edited and contro2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-03-17T16:07:43.22Z2025-05-18T10:52:36.651ZS-EPMC96165283579662910.1111/pbi.13888