CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Knockout of the OsbHLH024 Transcription Factor Improves Salt Stress Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

What is it about?

The research work presented in this paper investigates the role of the OsbHLH024 gene in rice under salt stress using the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy to generate a gene editing mutant. The A nucleotide base deletion was identified in the osbhlh024 mutant (A91). Exposure of the A91 under salt stress resulted in a significant increase in shoot weight, total chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence. Moreover, high antioxidant activities coincided with less reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stabilized levels of MDA in the A91. This better control of oxidative stress was accompanied by fewer Na+ but more K+, and a balanced level of Ca2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+ in the shoot and root of the A91, allowing it to withstand salt stress. Furthermore, the A91 also presented a significantly up-regulated expression of the ion transporter genes (OsHKT1;3, OsHAK7, and OsSOS1) in the shoot when exposed to salt stress. These findings imply that the OsbHLH024 might play the role of a negative regulator of salt stress, which will help to understand better the molecular basis of rice production improvement under salt stress.

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Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash

Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research paper is important because it provides valuable insights into the role of the OsbHLH024 gene in rice under salt stress. Salinity stress is one of the most prominent abiotic stresses that negatively affect crop production. Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the absorption, transport, or compartmentation of sodium (Na+) or potassium (K+) to resist salt stress. The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) is a TF gene family critical for plant growth and stress responses, including salinity. The study used the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy to generate a gene-editing mutant to investigate the role of OsbHLH024 in rice under salt stress. The results showed that the knockout of the OsbHLH024 gene improved salt stress resistance in rice. These findings imply that the OsbHLH024 might play the role of a negative regulator of salt stress, which will help to understand better the molecular basis of rice production improvement under salt stress.

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