Matías González is a postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Plant Biotechnology, SLU Alnarp, specialising in the applications of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in potato and other crops. His work focuses on refining NGTs for higher precision and broader application, including homology-directed sequence integrations into the potato genome and exploring the application of NGTs in the industrial oil crop Camelina sativa.Curious to know more? Read the interview below!
What is currently at the top of your research agenda?
I am currently in a transition phase, working on publishing the results from a project that concluded in 2025 while starting a new one this spring. In the completed EU-funded project “GeneBEcon: Capturing the potential of gene editing for a sustainable bioeconomy”, I focused on applying gene editing to improve potato starch quality for industrial food applications. This work involved both CRISPR-mediated targeted mutagenesis and targeted insertions, the latter being technically challenging and requiring optimisation for potato, particularly using transgene-free strategies based on protoplast transfection and full plant regeneration (Photo 1).
At present, my main focus is publishing these results, including the development and characterisation of potato lines producing novel starch qualities (Photo 2). Looking ahead, I have recently received funding from Formas for a new project named “INITIATE: Unveiling and modulating the starch granule initiation in potato for a more sustainable starch production” that will investigate the mechanisms initiating starch synthesis and granule formation in potato tubers. By improving our understanding of these early processes, we aim to develop biotechnological strategies to increase starch content and generate novel starch properties. The project involves collaborations with the University of Copenhagen and the John Innes Centre and is closely linked to the work of a PhD student working currently under my co-supervision. In parallel, I am co-supervising an MSc student working on gene editing in a novel oil crop to modify seed fatty acid composition, aiming at a higher accumulation of fatty acids with relevant industrial uses.
Tell us about your latest publication.
In my most recent publication, we investigated strategies with the potential to enhance homology-directed repair (HDR)-mediated gene editing in potato. HDR relies on a CRISPR/Cas system to induce a cut on a specific location of a genome, and a donor repair template (DRT) that the cell can use to repair the cut, leading to precise insertions of pre-designed DNA sequences. This technology offers a significant potential for precise modifications in plants, such as precise allele exchanges or targeted insertions of regulatory elements to fine-tune gene expression. However, it remains elusive due to a low HDR efficiency in somatic plant cells. Using protoplast transfections and high-throughput sequencing, we evaluated how different DRT configurations influence HDR efficiency in potato. We found that single-stranded DNA templates matching the strand targeted by CRISPR/Cas9 consistently outperformed other designs across multiple genomic loci. We also explored complementary approaches to promote HDR, including chemical inhibition of competing repair pathways and modifications to improve DRT accessibility at the target site. Together, our results provide practical guidelines for designing efficient targeted insertions in potato and establish a robust platform for rapidly testing gene-editing components in this crop.
What led you to your particular field of research?
During the final years of my Bachelor’s degree in Argentina, I took a course in plant biotechnology that briefly introduced gene editing tools such as TALENs and ZFNs. I was immediately fascinated by the possibility of precisely modifying plant genomes. At the time, I was working part-time at a biotech start-up focused on protein production in yeast, but my main interest had always been plant biotechnology. As I explored the literature further, I learned about the emerging CRISPR technology, which offered a much simpler and more versatile approach to gene editing. I even remember watching a talk by Jennifer Doudna on YouTube in which she explained how CRISPR works and discussed its potential.
I then sought research groups in Argentina working on gene editing and joined one applying CRISPR technologies in potato for my PhD. As this technology was still in its early stages in my country, I decided to strengthen my expertise abroad. Then, I applied for a mobility grant to work for a few months at SLU, with the group led by Per Hofvander and Mariette Andersson, pioneers in CRISPR-based potato research. This collaboration was very successful and strongly influenced my decision to continue my research career at SLU, after competition of my Ph.D.
What are the implications of your research for society?
My research has significant societal implications, particularly for sustainable industrial use of plant-derived starch. Starch is a renewable raw material used in sectors such as food, paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and construction. However, native starch often lacks the properties required for these applications and is therefore modified using energy-intensive processes and chemical treatments that can have environmental impacts. By developing knowledge and tools for targeted modification of starch synthesis directly in plants, my work will enable the production of potato cultivars with improved end-use quality and reduced need for downstream processing. This will contribute to more sustainable value chains and support the bioeconomy. At the Department of Plant Breeding, we work closely with industrial partners, which also contributes to ensuring that our research aligns with end users’ needs. Moreover, the recent provisional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the EU legal framework for plants developed using new genomic techniques creates a favourable scenario for translating gene-editing research into tangible benefits for European agriculture.
Finally, let´s say you have unlimited research funds; where would your research be five years from now?
Considering I am starting a new project that will run for the coming 4-5 years, it is impossible not to think of this question in the context of that research project. So, unlimited funding would help me to accelerate my research on understanding how starch granules are initiated and formed in potato tubers, and which factors determine granule size, shape, and composition, key determinants of starch functionality. This knowledge would enable the rational design of new strategies to tailor starch properties for specific industrial applications. The additional resources would be allocated to incorporate cutting-edge analytical and imaging technologies and to recruit specialised technical and scientific staff to fully exploit these tools. Ultimately, this would not only expand the capabilities of our department but also position my research at the forefront of sustainable starch biotechnology.
Thank you for a very interesting interview, Matías! We wish you the best of luck and success in your future path!