Japonica rice varieties

Scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in Delhi have achieved a significant breakthrough using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. They successfully increased phosphate uptake and transport in japonica rice varieties, leading to higher yields.

Key Findings and Implications:

• Increased Yield: The gene-edited rice lines showed an increase in seed and panicle numbers, resulting in a higher overall yield without compromising seed quality. These studies were conducted in a greenhouse setting.
• Phosphorus Importance: Phosphorus is an essential mineral for plant growth and development. Limited availability of phosphorus drastically reduces crop productivity.
• Inefficient Fertilizer Use: Currently, even with phosphate fertilizers, only about 15-20% is taken up by plants; the rest is lost through leaching or runoff.
• Yield Improvement with Gene Editing:
  • When the recommended amount of phosphate fertilizer was used, the gene-edited rice lines showed a 20% increase in yield.
  • Remarkably, when only 10% of the recommended dose of phosphate fertilizer was applied, the gene-edited rice lines exhibited a 40% increase in yield compared to control groups.
• Mechanism of Phosphate Transport: Rice absorbs phosphate through its roots and transports it to the shoots. The research focused on specific transporters:
  • One class of transporters brings phosphate from the soil into the root.
  • Another inorganic phosphate transporter (OsPHO1;2) transfers phosphate from the root to the shoot.
• Addressing India’s Import Dependency: India is heavily reliant on imports for phosphate fertilizers, importing nearly 4.5 million tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) annually.
• Potential for Sustainable Agriculture: If this gene-edited technology can be successfully replicated in Indian rice varieties, it holds immense potential to contribute significantly towards sustainable agriculture by reducing fertilizer dependency and increasing crop efficiency.

(Source: TH)