The Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed an intelligent pollination system named GEAIR, which combines gene editing and robotics to automate the crop pollination process. The achievement was published in the journal Cell on August 11, providing an innovative solution for modern agricultural breeding.

The research team used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to modify the floral structures of tomatoes and soybeans, making them male-sterile with exposed stigmas for easy robotic operation. Project leader Professor Xu Cao stated: “We have redesigned the crop flower structure to make it more suitable for machine recognition and operation.” The supporting AI robot can accurately identify flowers and perform pollination, with efficiency comparable to manual work and capable of 24/7 operation.

Traditional hybrid breeding relies on manual pollination, which is costly. For tomatoes, manual pollination accounts for more than 25% of breeding costs. The GEAIR system eliminates the emasculation step through gene editing and, combined with robotics, increases pollination efficiency by 40%. The system can also be used for pollen collection, plant screening, and other operations, significantly reducing breeding costs.

The research shows that this technology is applicable to a variety of crops. The team has successfully developed new tomato lines with better flavor and stronger stress resistance, and has verified its applicability in soybean breeding. Professor Xu Cao noted: “This is not only a technological innovation but also a revolution in breeding models.” In the future, the system is expected to integrate with rapid breeding technologies to further shorten breeding cycles.