Flow Guiding Barrel and Shoot Apical Meristem Delivery System

A delivery system for delivering genetic material to shoot apical meristems, the delivery system comprising:

• a biolistic particle delivery assembly configured to deliver a microcarrier system at target cells of the shoot apical meristems;
• the biolistic particle delivery assembly having a gas tube;
• and
• the biolistic particle delivery assembly having a cartridge holder having an opening;
• a source of pressurized carrier gas operatively connected to a first end of the gas tube;
• an extender;
• the extender having a channel configured to fit through the opening;
• the channel configured to direct a major flow path of the microcarrier system through the channel and towards the target cells;
• wherein a length of the channel facilitates the penetration of the microcarrier system to an L2 layer of the shoot apical meristem.

A delivery system extender, the extender comprising:

• a ring having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one side;
• and
• the ring having an opening configured to receive a microcarrier system configured to edit a genome of a plant;
• the bottom of the ring configured to attach the extender to a biolistic particle delivery assembly;
• a body attached to the ring having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one side;
• the body having a channel configured to receive pressurized carrier gas carrying the microcarrier system towards target cells of the plant;
• wherein a length of the extender facilitates the penetration of the microcarrier system to an L2 layer of the shoot apical meristem.

A method for delivering genetic material to shoot apical meristems, the method comprising:

• attaching an extender to a biolistic particle delivery assembly;
• placing a microcarrier system in the biolistic particle delivery assembly;
• moving pressurized gas through a gas tube from a gas container to the biolistic particle delivery assembly;
• bombarding the microcarrier system through the extender of the biolistic particle delivery assembly towards target cells utilizing the pressurized gas through the extender;
• and
• penetrating an L2 layer of a shoot apical meristem by the microcarrier system.