CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing has been used by researchers at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) to enhance phosphate absorption in japonica rice

What is Japonica Rice?

Japonica rice is a high-starch, short-grain type of rice mainly cultivated in East Asia, commonly utilized in breeding studies because of its simple genetic modification and consistent traits in regulated settings.

Created By:

Created by NIPGR, New Delhi, utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene modification.

Study released in the Plant Biotechnology Journal

Cultivar utilized: Nipponbare (a representative japonica type)

How Was It Created?

Target Gene Identified: OsPHO1;2, a phosphate transporter transferring phosphorus from roots to shoots.

Repressor Identified: OsWRKY6, an inhibitor of this transporter

First Strategy Unsuccessful: Disabling the repressor affected other functions in the plant.

Exact Editing: Only the 30 base-pair binding sites of the repressor were eliminated utilizing CRISPR.

Result: Enhanced phosphate transport to the shoot, resulting in improved seed formation.

Essential Characteristics of Gene-Modified Japonica Rice:

20% increased output with the complete fertilizer amount and a 40% yield boost with just 10% of the suggested phosphate.

Enhanced phosphate uptake resulting from better transporter stimulation.

Increased panicles and seeds, with seed quality and size staying consistent.

No foreign DNA in the final generation; eliminated through Mendelian segregation.

No unintended effects observed; confirmed with leading genome-prediction tools.

Effectively replicates minimally invasive promoter gene surgery.