Enhancing Yield and Improving Grain Quality in Japonica Rice: Targeted EHD1 Editing via CRISPR-Cas9 in Low-Latitude Adaptation

The " to " initiative in China focuses on adapting rice varieties from the northeast to the unique photoperiod and temperature conditions of lower latitudes. While breeders can select varieties for their adaptability, the sensitivity to light and temperature often complicates and prolongs the process. Addressing the challenge of cultivating high-yield, superior-quality rice over expanded latitudinal ranges swiftly, in the face of these sensitivities, is critical. Our approach harnesses the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the gene in the premium northeastern cultivars Jiyuanxiang 1 and Yinongxiang 12, which are distinguished by their exceptional grain quality-increased head rice rates, gel consistency, and reduced chalkiness and amylose content. Field trials showed that these new mutants not only surpass the wild types in yield when grown at low latitudes but also retain the desirable traits of their progenitors. Additionally, we found that disabling boosts the activity of and , postponing flowering by approximately one month in the mutants. This research presents a viable strategy for the accelerated breeding of elite northeastern rice by integrating genomic insights with gene-editing techniques suitable for low-latitude cultivation.