Korean Rice Cultivar Gains Glufosinate Resistance Through Prime Editing

Scientists in South Korea have used prime editing to introduce herbicide tolerance into "Dongjin," a popular native rice cultivar. By precisely modifying the OsGS1;1 gene without retaining foreign transgenes, the researchers demonstrated a new genetic strategy to tackle major weed-control challenges in direct-seeded rice. The framework reveals significant insights into how high-precision gene editing can streamline weed management and highlights its potential for precise, transgene-free crop breeding.

Weed control is a major challenge in direct-seeded rice, where aggressive "weedy rice" emerges alongside crops and cannot be easily eliminated without negatively affecting the harvest. To solve this, researchers introduced a targeted 6-base-pair insertion into the OsGS1;1 gene with a 61% precise editing rate, successfully conferring resistance to glufosinate. When exposed to the herbicide, edited seedlings maintained robust shoot and root growth, whereas standard wild-type plants were severely stunted. Notably, the final crop line was confirmed to be free of foreign transgenes, offering a clean genetic resource designed for smoother regulatory approval and broader adoption.

While the edited rice has so far been evaluated only at the seedling stage, this strategy could provide farmers with a safe, effective tool against persistent weeds in direct-seeded production. By continuing to refine these precise editing mechanisms, scientists could potentially tailor elite crop varieties to withstand emerging field challenges for sustainable agricultural systems.

Read the full study in the Korean Journal of Breeding Science to learn more.