CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockup of OsDREB1C enhances rice yield without compromising grain quality

Yanmin Luo; Xiaodeng Zhan; Yingxin Zhang; Beifang Wang; Guanqi Wang; Yue Zhang; Guzi Li; Qunen Liu; Xihong Shen; Daibo Chen; Yongbo Hong; Weixun Wu; Guoyou Ye; Shihua Cheng; Gang Pan; Liyong Cao

doi:10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101433

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockup of OsDREB1C enhances rice yield without compromising grain quality

Plant Commun. 2025 Jun 27:101433. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101433. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yanmin Luo¹, Xiaodeng Zhan², Yingxin Zhang², Beifang Wang², Guanqi Wang², Yue Zhang², Guzi Li², Qunen Liu², Xihong Shen², Daibo Chen², Yongbo Hong³, Weixun Wu², Guoyou Ye⁴, Shihua Cheng², Gang Pan⁵, Liyong Cao⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China; Northern Rice Research Center of Bao Qing, Shuangyashan 155600, China; Key Laboratory of Northern Japonica Rice Research in Heilongjiang Province, Baoqing Northern Rice Research Center, Baoqing, Heilongjiang 155600, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China; National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572025, China.
⁴ International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Laguna 4031, Philippines.
⁵ Department of Agronomy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: pangang12@zju.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China; Northern Rice Research Center of Bao Qing, Shuangyashan 155600, China; National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572025, China; Key Laboratory of Northern Japonica Rice Research in Heilongjiang Province, Baoqing Northern Rice Research Center, Baoqing, Heilongjiang 155600, China. Electronic address: pangang12@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 40581821
DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2025.101433

Abstract

This study developed a CRISPR/Cas9-based strategy to engineer structural variations in the OsDREB1C gene in rice, leading to enhanced expression and improved agronomic traits, including a 21-28.33% increase in grain yield without compromising quality. The resulting homozygous plants maintained a transgene-free background, showcasing an effective method for crop improvement.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Genomic inversion; OsDREB1C; Rice; Yield improvement.