Improvement of Flowering Stage in <i>Japonica</i> Rice Variety Jiahe212 by Using CRISPR/Cas9 System
Dengmei He,
Ran Zhou,
Chenbo Huang,
Yanhui Li,
Zequn Peng,
Dian Li,
Wenjing Duan,
Nuan Huang,
Liyong Cao,
Shihua Cheng,
Xiaodeng Zhan,
Lianping Sun,
Shiqiang Wang
Affiliations
Dengmei He
College of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163711, China
Ran Zhou
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Chenbo Huang
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Yanhui Li
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Zequn Peng
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Dian Li
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Wenjing Duan
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Nuan Huang
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Liyong Cao
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Shihua Cheng
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Xiaodeng Zhan
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Lianping Sun
Chinese National Center for Rice Improvement and National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311402, China
Shiqiang Wang
College of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163711, China
The flowering period of rice significantly impacts variety adaptability and yield formation. Properly shortening the reproductive period of rice varieties can expand their ecological range without significant yield reduction. Targeted genome editing, like CRISPR/Cas9, is an ideal tool to fine-tune rice growth stages and boost yield synergistically. In this study, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated multiplex genome-editing vector containing five genes related to three traits, Hd2, Ghd7, and DTH8 (flowering-stage genes), along with the recessive rice blast resistance gene Pi21 and the aromatic gene BADH2. This vector was introduced into the high-quality japonica rice variety in Zhejiang province, Jiahe212 (JH212), resulting in 34 T0 plants with various effective mutations. Among the 17 mutant T1 lines, several displayed diverse flowering dates, but most exhibited undesirable agronomic traits. Notably, three homozygous mutant lines (JH-C15, JH-C18, and JH-C31) showed slightly earlier flowering dates without significant differences in yield-related traits compared to JH212. Through special Hyg and Cas marker selection of T2 plants, we identified seven, six, and two fragrant glutinous plants devoid of transgenic components. These single plants will serve as sib lines of JH212 and potential resources for breeding applications, including maintenance lines for indica–japonica interspecific three-line hybrid rice. In summary, our research lays the foundation for the creation of short-growth-period CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility, CMS) lines, and also provides materials and a theoretical basis for indica–japonica interspecific hybrid rice breeding with wider adaptability.
