CRISPR Offers Efficient and Stable Approach to Rapeseed Production

To answer the need for a more efficient, stable, and environmentally resilient system to improve hybrid production of rapeseed, researchers from Zhejiang University and Jiaxing Academy of Agricultural Sciences developed a novel approach using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The method targets the BnDAD1 gene, creating male-sterile lines  and simplifying hybrid rapeseed seed production.

Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the researchers effectively disrupted the BnDAD1 gene, which plays a crucial role in the jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway. This disruption resulted in male sterility due to defects in anther dehiscence and pollen maturation in rapeseed. The researchers were able to restore fertility in the male-sterile lines by applying exogenous methyl jasmonate, enabling the production of F1 hybrid seeds. This new two-line system is a more straightforward and efficient method for hybrid seed production compared to traditional systems.

The male sterility induced by the CRISPR-Cas9 method is stable and complete, which makes it a robust solution for hybrid rapeseed production. This approach could help enhance the efficiency and sustainability of rapeseed cultivation, increase yields, and address the growing global demand for vegetable oil.

For more details, read this article. The results of this study is published in Horticulture Research.