Speakers - 2026

Title: CRISPR/CAS 9 mediated genome editing of sd1 gene in basmati 370

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide, and Basmati rice is highly valued for its unique aroma, grain quality, and premium market value. However, traditional Basmati cultivars such as Basmati 370 possess tall plant architecture, making them prone to lodging, which adversely affects yield and crop management. The Semi-Dwarf 1 (sd1) gene, encoding gibberellin 20-oxidase (GA20ox2), has been extensively exploited in rice breeding to reduce plant height and improve lodging resistance. Genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system offers a precise and efficient approach for targeted modification of this gene while preserving the elite characteristics of Basmati rice.

The present study aims to generate semi-dwarf Basmati 370 plants through targeted mutagenesis of the sd1 gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting an early coding region of the gene were designed and cloned into the pRGEB32 binary vector. The recombinant construct was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens and used for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds of Basmati 370. Hygromycin-resistant calli were regenerated under optimized tissue culture conditions, and regenerated hygromycin-resistant shoots have been obtained and are currently being advanced for rooting and acclimatization.

Transformation and regeneration have been successfully achieved, and molecular confirmation of putative transformants is currently in progress. Subsequent evaluation will focus on determining editing efficiency, plant height reduction, lodging resistance, and important agronomic and grain quality traits to assess the effectiveness of genome editing while maintaining the desirable characteristics of Basmati 370.

The anticipated outcomes of this study will provide valuable insights into the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for precision breeding of elite Basmati cultivars. This work establishes a platform for precise genome editing of elite Basmati cultivars and will facilitate the development of semi-dwarf Basmati lines with improved lodging resistance.

The audience take away from presentation:

• Understand the role of the sd1 gene in regulating plant height.
• Learn the workflow of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in rice.
• Potential of genome editing for crop improvement without altering desirable grain quality.
• Explore future applications of CRISPR technology in rice breeding programmes.