Why in news?
Scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research used CRISPR‑Cas9 gene editing to boost phosphate uptake in japonica rice, an important East Asian variety. The breakthrough promises higher yields with less fertiliser.
What is japonica rice?
- Japonica is a group of short‑grain, sticky rice varieties widely grown in Japan, Korea and parts of China. It differs from India’s long‑grain indica rice in texture and genetic makeup.
- Because of its low phosphorus‑use efficiency, farmers often apply heavy doses of fertilisers, raising costs and environmental concerns.
How scientists improved it
- Researchers targeted a gene called OsPHO1;2, which transports phosphate from roots to shoots. A repressor protein normally limits its activity.
- Using CRISPR‑Cas9, they precisely edited the repressor’s binding sites without introducing foreign DNA. This increased the gene’s expression and improved phosphate mobilisation.
Features of the edited rice
- Yield increased by around 20 percent when full phosphorus was applied, and up to 40 percent under low‑fertiliser conditions.
- The edited plants grew more robustly and produced more grains per panicle.
- No foreign genetic material was inserted, making the product a gene‑edited (not transgenic) crop.
Significance for India and the world
- Improved phosphate use could reduce dependence on imported fertilisers such as di‑ammonium phosphate (DAP).
- Gene‑edited technology offers an alternative path to increasing yields without controversial transgenes.
- The same technique might be adapted for India’s indica rice, potentially boosting productivity in nutrient‑poor soils.