Premium
Novel Wx alleles generated by base editing for improvement of rice grain quality
Author(s) -
Huang Xiaorui,
Su Fei,
Huang Sheng,
Mei Fating,
Niu Xiaomu,
Ma Changle,
Zhang Hui,
Zhu Xiaoguo,
Zhu JianKang,
Zhang Jinshan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/jipb.13098
Subject(s) - amylose , oryza sativa , allele , cytosine , gene , grain quality , biology , genetics , genetically modified rice , oryza , agronomy , transgene , food science , genetically modified crops , starch
Amylose content (AC), which is regulated by the Waxy ( Wx ) gene, is a major indicator of eating and cooking quality (ECQ) in rice ( Oryza sativa ). Thus far, only a limited number of mutations in the N‐terminal domain of Wx were found to have a major impact on the AC of rice grains and no mutations with such effects were reported for other regions of the Wx protein. Here, nucleotide substitutions in the middle region of Wx were generated by adenine and cytosine base editors. The nucleotide substitutions led to changes in 15 amino acid residues of Wx, and a series of novel Wx alleles with ACs of 0.3%–29.43% (wild type with AC of 19.87%) were obtained. Importantly, the waxy abe2 allele showed a “soft rice” AC, improved ECQ, favorable appearance, and no undesirable agronomic traits. The transgenes were removed from the waxy abe2 progeny, generating a promising breeding material for improving rice grain quality.