Rice Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 219-236 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 230 to improve the quality of Indian indica rice, by using the linkage markers of Wx and Alk, the excellent alleles of two seats were successfully introduced into the high-yield background together, thereby significantly reducing the amylose content and increasing the gel consistency, achieving a notable improvement in rice quality (Figure 3) (Gao et al., 2024). Gene editing technology offers a new approach to the utilization of superior alleles: it can directly create the desired allelic variations in an existing variety without introducing an exogenous genetic background, thereby avoiding long-term backcrossing. For instance, for a common high-straight-chain rice, by knocking out the Wx gene with CRISPR/Cas9, isogenic homozygotes of glutinous rice alleles can be obtained within one generation. For instance, by fine-tuning the Wx promoter through gene editing, a series of Wx allelic variants with different expression intensities were obtained, achieving continuous adjustment of amylose content. Within the same variety, a series of materials with high, medium and low amylose content were created. This is equivalent to obtaining the allelic variation that requires multiple varieties in traditional breeding with just one click, which is very convenient for breeding. In addition, a foreign research team used CRISPR to simultaneously edit the Wx and OsBADH2 genes, cultivating a new material called "fragrant glutinous rice" with both glutinous texture and fragrance. This requires complex hybridization and multiple generations of selection in traditional breeding, while gene editing can achieve the superposition of two superior traits with a single mutation, demonstrating great potential. It can be foreseen that with the mature application of gene editing technology, we will be able to combine high-quality alleles more freely. For instance, the polymerization of multiple traits such as "low linear chain + high resistant starch + aromatic" will be more convenient, thus enabling the cultivation of functional high-quality rice varieties that meet the needs of special groups. Fully exploring and utilizing the excellent alleles that affect the quality of rice, along with advanced molecular polymerization methods, will greatly promote the breeding process of high-quality rice and meet people's expectations for rice to be "delicious and healthy". Figure 3 The combinations of hybrid rice with high quality. (a) The appearance of rice; (b) The characteristics of rice panicles; (c) The plant type characteristics of rice (Adopted from Gao et al., 2024)
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