CRISPR-Edited Japonica Rice by NIPGR Boosts Yield and Phosphate Efficiency

PWOnlyIAS

July 09, 2025

CRISPR-Edited Japonica Rice by NIPGR Boosts Yield and Phosphate Efficiency

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.

Japonica Rice

  • The other main eco-geographical race of Oryza sativa, alongside Indica.
  • Grown mainly in cooler subtropical zones and temperate regions.
  • Primary type of rice cultivated and consumed in Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia; Popular for its sticky texture when cooked.
  • Plants have short to intermediate height; Leaves are narrow and dark green.
  • Grains are short to medium in length, oval or round in shape.
  • Known for low grain shattering and 0–20% amylose content.
  • Panicles may have awns or be awnless.

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.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a gene-editing tool used to modify the DNA of a specific gene by removing, adding, or changing parts of its sequence.

  • 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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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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