Disabling a rice gene makes seeds sprout prematurely in wet conditions
Lee MB, Lee HN, Chu SH, Park YJ, Park CW
Crispr
Rice fields that get hit by rain just before harvest can sprout right on the stalk, and understanding which genes control that hair-trigger response is the first step toward varieties that hold their seeds until you're ready to collect them.
Imagine rice seeds deciding to sprout while still hanging on the plant after a rainy spell before harvest. Researchers found a gene that acts like a brake on that process; when they disabled it using a precise genetic tool, the seeds sprouted far more easily and quickly than normal. This tells us the gene is part of a hormonal control system that keeps seeds dormant until the right moment, and breeders could eventually use this knowledge to grow rice that resists spoiling in the field during wet seasons.
Key Findings
CRISPR knockout of OsERF94 produced frameshift mutations causing loss-of-function, and mutant lines showed significantly higher germination rates under pre-harvest sprouting conditions than wild type.
Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of gibberellin biosynthesis genes (OsKO3, OsGA3ox2) and downregulation of a GA deactivation gene (OsGA2ox5) in mutant lines, implicating GA metabolism in the sprouting response.
Whole-genome resequencing detected few or no off-target mutations in both edited lines, confirming high editing precision.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists used CRISPR gene editing to knock out a gene called OsERF94 in rice, which caused seeds to sprout prematurely on the plant before harvest. The findings suggest this gene normally suppresses early germination by moderating hormones that trigger sprouting, making it a target for breeding more weather-resilient rice varieties.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Mutagenesis of OsERF94 Enhances Pre-Harvest Sprouting in Rice.
Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), where seeds germinate on panicles before harvest under humid conditions, is a serious global issue in cereal crop production, including rice. Fine-mapping of the previo...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Chloroplast Genome Editing Eliminates Gluten Immunogenicity in Triticum aestivum
It could mean that people with celiac disease — roughly 1 in 100 worldwide — may one day safely eat bread made from real wheat, without sacrificing the taste...
Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa —or, much less commonly, Oryza glaberrima. Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 y...