RNA silencing by CRISPR in plants does not require Cas13

The associated experiments document the production of small RNA (sRNA) during the expression of Cas13 and crRNA, crRNA alone, or controls from agrobacterium spot infiltration in Nicotiana benthamiana. We document the specific production of sRNA corresponding to the guide sequence of the targeted mRNA. In cases where a multi-guide crRNA or a hairpin were expressed, abundent sRNA are produced correspinding to the target mRNA, but outside of the corresponding guide sequence site. small RNA sequencing from N. benthamiana leaves. Two experimental designs were used. One, termed spot, collected leaf tissue at 5 days post agrobacterium-mediated expression of constructs. The other, termed TRV, collected upper, non-infiltrated leaf, following systemic movement of TRV expression cassette.