# Chaiyut Suksombat

> Chaiyut Suksombat applies multiplex CRISPR-Cas12a editing to reprogram cassava's starch biosynthesis pathway at Chulalongkorn University's Biotechnology department, targeting the GBSSI and SBEIIb genes simultaneously to create a waxy cassava line with near-zero amylose content. Specialty waxy starches — used in food texturisers, paper coatings, and adhesives — currently command a 40–60% price premium over commodity cassava starch, but the plant genetics community has not yet produced a commercially viable waxy cassava variety. Supervised by Prof. Siripong Thammarat, Chaiyut has achieved biallelic editing of both target genes in 34% of regenerated plants across three Thai landrace backgrounds, confirmed by Sanger and Nanopore sequencing. Scanning electron microscopy of granule morphology and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography of the extracted starch show the characteristic rounded, heterogeneous granule shape and >98% amylopectin content of waxy starch phenotypes. A formal research partnership with the Thai Starch Industry Association provides field evaluation plots and downstream processing characterisation, ensuring that Chaiyut's laboratory genetics translate into agronomically and industrially validated varieties.

*Source: [https://selltoscientists.com/phd/chaiyut-suksombat/](https://selltoscientists.com/phd/chaiyut-suksombat/)*

**Institution:** Chulalongkorn University
**Field:** Agricultural Biotechnology
**Advisor:** Prof. Siripong Thammarat
**Thesis:** CRISPR-Cas12a Multiplex Editing of Cassava Waxy Starch Biosynthesis Genes for Industrial Specialty Starch Production
**Publications:** 2

## Skills

- CRISPR guide RNA design
- Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
- starch granule morphology SEM
- amylose/amylopectin ratio HPSEC

## Industry transition signals

- industry partnership with Thai Starch Industry Association
- TH50 grant recipient
- presenting at ISAAA Asia Pacific 2026

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