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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May 13, 2026

In This Week’s Issue:

News

New Breeding Technologies
• Study Solves Mystery in Anthocyanin Production in Black Rice
• HKUST Scientists Develop DNA-Guided CRISPR Tool for Virus Detection



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NEWS
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New Breeding Technologies
STUDY SOLVES MYSTERY IN ANTHOCYANIN PRODUCTION IN BLACK RICE

Researchers at Kyung Hee University have identified two enzymes, OsA3GT1 and OsA3GT2, that serve as the "finishing tools" required to stabilize anthocyanin pigments in black rice. Their findings, published in the journal Rice, solve a long-standing mystery in plant biology.

While the biosynthetic pathway of anthocyanin development in grains is well-documented, the final steps of the process have remained unclear. Using CRISPR gene editing, the research team successfully defined the roles of these two enzymes. They discovered that when OsA3GT1 is deactivated, rice seeds lose both their dark pigmentation and the majority of their nutritional content. The second enzyme, OsA3GT2, performs a similar function but acts in a smaller, secondary capacity.

Together, these enzymes ensure that the plant effectively stores health-promoting compounds, such as cyanidin, within the rice bran. These insights provide a roadmap for scientists to breed new rice varieties with significantly higher antioxidant levels.

Read the research article in Rice.

Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have developed the world's first DNA-guided CRISPR-Cas system capable of targeting and cutting RNA. The study introduces a new diagnostic platform called SLEUTH (Specific Locus Evaluation Utilizing Targeted Hydrolysis), which uses synthetic DNA guides instead of the traditional RNA guides used in CRISPR systems.

The team, led by Professors Hsing I-Ming and Zhai Yuanliang, redesigned the CRISPR-Cas12a system to recognize RNA using engineered DNA molecules called crDNA. Unlike conventional CRISPR tools, which rely on RNA guides to locate DNA targets, the new system uses DNA guides to direct the protein toward RNA molecules. According to the team, the DNA-guided approach is more stable, cost-effective, and precise than existing RNA-based systems, while also reducing off-target effects.

Tests on 31 clinical SARS-CoV-2 samples showed the platform could accurately detect viral RNA and distinguish targets with high sensitivity. The researchers said the technology could improve rapid virus detection and support the development of future RNA-targeted treatments. The technology could support point-of-care testing in clinics, airports, and resource-limited settings because it does not require cold-chain storage.

For more information, read the article from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.