Scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) have developed CRISPR-edited japonica rice that absorbs phosphate more efficiently.

• CRISPR-edited japonica rice leads to a 20% increase in yield under normal fertilizer use, and up to 40% under low-phosphate conditions. The breakthrough could improve crop performance and reduce dependence on phosphate fertilizers.

Key Scientific Development

• Technique used: CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
• Target gene: OsPHO1;2, a phosphate transporter that moves phosphate from root to shoot.
• Challenge addressed: Only 15–20% of phosphate fertilizer is absorbed by plants; the rest is lost to runoff or soil binding. Initial issue: Knocking out the repressor gene (OsWRKY6) (that blocks the transporter gene) improved phosphate transport but harmed plant growth.
• Final solution: Edited only the 30-base-pair binding site for the repressor without deleting the gene itself, preserving other plant functions.

Why Japonica?

• Easier to modify than Indian indica rice.
• Serves as a proof-of-concept before applying the technology to Indian cultivars.
  • A cultivar is a kind of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and which retains those traits when propagated.

Benefits in Gene-Edited Rice

• Increased phosphate transport and shoot accumulation.
• Roots absorbed more phosphate before it became insoluble in soil.

• Higher number of panicles and seeds.
• No adverse effects on seed quality, starch, or nutrient content.
• Yield increase:
• • 20% with full fertilizer use.
  • 40% with just 10% of recommended phosphate.
• No foreign DNA  detected in the final generation.

Why Does It Matters?

• Phosphorus is vital for crop growth, but most of it (80–85%) from fertilizers goes unused due to soil reactions.
• India imports over 4.5 million tonnes of phosphate fertilizers annually.
• Gene-edited rice could improve nutrient efficiency and support sustainable farming.
• The breakthrough could improve crop performance and reduce dependence on phosphate fertilizers.

Phosphorus Importance for Plants 

Some specific growth factors associated with phosphorus are:

• Stimulated root development
• Increased stalk and stem strength
• Improved flower formation and seed production
• More uniform and earlier crop maturity
• Increased nitrogen N-fixing capacity of legumes
• Improvements in crop quality
• Increased resistance to plant diseases
• Supports development throughout entire lifecycle

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