CROP BIOTECH UPDATE
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A weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
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February 4, 2026
In This Week’s Issue:
News
New Breeding Technologies
• Gene Editing Enhances Oil Yield and Quality of Jatropha
• Gansu Agricultural University Researchers Modify Potato Gene to Boost Drought Tolerance
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NEWS
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New Breeding Technologies
GENE EDITING ENHANCES OIL YIELD AND QUALITY OF JATROPHA
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangxi University have identified a gene that could significantly improve the commercial potential of Jatropha curcas, a drought-tolerant shrub widely seen as a promising source of biodiesel and bio-jet fuel. A new study reports that targeted genetic modification can increase both seed yield and oil content in Jatropha.
The study identified JcSPL9 acts as a master switch that determines when the plant transitions from growing leaves to producing flowers and seeds. In this study, the researchers edited the plants to overexpress a modified form of JcSPL9, known as rJcSPL9, and compared them with plants in which a related regulatory molecule, JcmiR156a, was increased.
The results showed that rJcSPL9 plants produced 80.76% more seeds and 12.6% higher oil content, while plants with elevated JcmiR156a experienced a 51.67% drop in seed yield and an 8.27% decrease in oil content. The researchers concluded that JcSPL9 is a promising target for molecular breeding in Jatropha and other major oilseed crops, including soybean, canola, and sunflower, to help meet growing demand for biofuels and renewable resources.
For more information, read the article from the Chinese Academy of Sciences or read the study from Plant Biotechnology Journal.
Researchers from Gansu Agricultural University in China have identified a gene in potato that will enhance drought stress tolerance by regulating internal defense systems. The study focused on StMYB19 and examined how genetic modification of this gene affects drought tolerance in the potato variety “Atlantic.”
The researchers genetically modified potatoes to obtain overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi) lines. When exposed to drought conditions, potatoes with increased StMYB19 expression showed milder drought symptoms, while the suppressed expression lines showed growth inhibition and severe leaf wilting. Further analysis revealed that overexpressing plants significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced the levels of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS).
The study also showed that StMYB19 activates drought defense by regulating the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. By maintaining ROS homeostasis and activating the JA signaling pathway, StMYB19 coordinates plant defense and growth under drought conditions. These findings highlight the potential of targeted genetic modification to improve drought tolerance in crops facing increasing climate stress.
For more information, read the study from Plant Science.