The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for editing a target site of a plant genome by delivery of functional editing components using modified tobacco mosaic virus (mTMV). The methods disclosed herein can be used to deliver a gene editing system, such as a DNA endonuclease, to a tobacco plant cell for modification of a target site of the plant genome. Further, the methods and compositions disclosed herein provide for production of a RNA molecule encoding a meganuclease in vitro prior to delivery of the RNA to a plant cell. After introduction of the nucleic acid molecule encoding a functional editing component and subsequent expression of the functional editing components, the plant can be cultured and allowed to produce seeds having an edit at a genomic target site. The seeds can then undergo embryo rescue and be cultured to produce a modified plant without heterologous genetic material.
