Gene-Edited Japonica Rice Study
Scientists from the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in Delhi have utilized CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to enhance phosphate uptake in japonica rice varieties. This innovation has led to an increase in yield without affecting the seed quality, as the gene-edited lines exhibited higher seed and panicle numbers.
Phosphate Uptake and Yield Increase
- Phosphorus is critical for plant growth, but only 15-20% of phosphate fertilizers are absorbed by plants, with the rest lost through runoff.
- Gene-edited rice lines showed:
- 20% yield increase with the recommended fertilizer dose.
- 40% yield increase when using only 10% of the recommended fertilizer dose compared to the control.
Mechanism of Phosphate Transport
Rice absorbs phosphate via roots and transfers it to shoots. Researchers focused on the transporter OsPHO1;2, which facilitates this transfer.
- NIPGR identified the repressor OsWRKY6 that binds to the promoter, affecting phosphate transport.
- By removing the repressor binding site using CRISPR-Cas9, phosphate transport increased, improving plant growth and yield.
Implications and Challenges
- Gene-edited plants absorb phosphate rapidly, preventing it from forming insoluble complexes and becoming inaccessible.
- Concerns include intellectual property rights and off-target effects, but advanced software minimizes off-target risks.
- The presence of foreign DNA is eliminated in subsequent generations using Mendelian segregation methods.
Potential for Indian Agriculture
This technology, if adapted for Indian indica rice varieties, could significantly enhance sustainable agriculture, reduce dependency on phosphate fertilizer imports, and address phosphorus deficiency prevalent in Indian soils.
Overall, this advancement in gene editing of rice varieties represents a promising step towards increasing agricultural productivity and addressing global food security challenges.
