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Food supply

Gene Editing Breakthrough in Basmati Rice

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) have successfully applied a multiplex genome editing approach to enhance the yield of elite Basmati rice. By editing four genes responsible for yield, the team achieved a remarkable 30% co-editing efficiency, resulting in increased tillers, grain weight, and overall yield. This breakthrough has significant implications for global food security and may pave the way for improved Basmati rice varieties.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team utilized a CRISPR-Cas9 polycistronic tRNA-gRNA (PTG) endogenous processing efficient multiplex editing system to edit four genes: OsD27, OsGW2, OsTGW6, and OsGN1a.
  • Quadruple edited lines were characterized for key yield parameters, including number of tillers, number of grains, grain weight, overall yield increase, lodging resistance, and cooking quality related traits.
  • The team found that all quadruple edited plants produced more tillers, a greater number of grains with high grain weight, and decreased plant height.
  • The contribution of all four genes was additive, resulting in a remarkable boost in yield.
  • The tRNA-gRNA multiplexing CRISPR-Cas9 system showed high efficiency in the Basmati rice background, simultaneously editing multiple genes.
  • The research concluded that this multiplex system is well-suited for pyramiding multiple alleles in Basmati rice and may provide a promising approach to enhance yield.

Statistics:

  • 30% co-editing efficiency achieved through multiplex genome editing
  • 30% increase in number of tillers
  • 25% increase in number of grains
  • 20% increase in grain weight
  • 25% decrease in plant height
  • 25% increase in overall yield

Sources:

  • National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE)
  • Engineering high yield basmati rice by editing multiple negative regulators of yield. Molecular Biology Reports, 2025;52(1):545.
  • Molecular Biology Reports, Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. (www.springer.com; www.springerlink.com/content/0301-4851/)
  • Muhammad Jawad Akbar Awan, Agricultural Biotechnology Division, NIBGE, Constituent College Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Abu Bakar Waqas, Imran Amin, Muhammad Arif, Zahid Mukhtar, and Shahid Mansoor, authors of the study.

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