Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.6, 314-322 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 319 (Huang et al., 2023). But in wheat, the relevant genes are more involved in sulfur metabolism and have little effect on leaf color. This functional difference may be related to the regulation mode and expression location of the gene, as well as the different effects of sulfur compounds in different plants. By comparing the transcriptome data, it was found that although the main function of cysteine synthesis was maintained, the regulation and other minor functions were different, which also reflected the adaptation of various species to environmental and metabolic needs. 6.3 Enlightenment from cross-species comparison Comparisons between different species provide us with many clues to understand the evolution of GRA78. The core sequence of GRA78 has been well preserved, indicating that its basic function is very important for plants. In the regulatory region, many changes have occurred in different species, and these changes may help plants adapt to different environments. For example, homologous genes of GRA78 have also been found in barley and sorghum, which may play a role in plant response to adversity, rather than just affecting leaf color (Wang et al., 2017). These findings remind us that when studying plant evolution and adaptation, we should not only look at the consistency of gene functions, but also pay attention to the differences between them (Zhao et al., 2020). 7 Applications in Rice Breeding and Biotechnology 7.1 Potential for improving photosynthetic efficiency The cysteine synthase gene GRA78 plays an important role in controlling the leaf color of rice (Oryza sativa). This also affects the photosynthetic efficiency and overall health of the rice. Now that researchers have a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of GRA78, it has brought new opportunities for rice breeding and biotechnology innovation. Leaf color is closely related to photosynthetic efficiency, which directly determines crop yield. Studies have found that if the expression of GRA78 can be regulated, the concentration of chlorophyll can be adjusted, allowing plants to better absorb sunlight and improve photosynthetic efficiency. For example, when the expression of GRA78 increases, the content of chlorophyll b also increases. Chlorophyll b can help plants absorb more types of light and thus perform photosynthesis better. This change not only makes plants grow faster, but also increases their biomass output. Therefore, GRA78 is a very potential target for genetic improvement. 7.2 Breeding strategies to improve leaf color traits In order to improve the color of rice leaves, it is also helpful to study the GRA78 gene. Traditional breeding methods can be combined with marker-assisted selection (MAS) to select and breed good varieties with ideal leaf color. Some GRA78 alleles are associated with dark green leaves, indicating that these leaves have more chlorophyll and better nutrient absorption. Breeding work can use these gene markers to cultivate new rice varieties with better leaf color and stronger photosynthesis capacity (Wu et al., 2022). In this way, not only will the rice look better, but the function will also be improved. 7.3 Biotechnology methods and genetic engineering In addition to traditional methods, biotechnology can also directly manipulate the GRA78 gene to achieve the desired effect. For example, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology has been successfully used to regulate the expression of GRA78, resulting in changes in rice leaf color and chlorophyll synthesis (Zhang et al., 2022). This technology can precisely control the on/off of genes, providing a powerful tool for breeding rice varieties with stronger photosynthetic capacity and better agronomic traits. In addition, transgenic methods can also introduce GRA78 mutations from other rice subspecies or closely related plants into cultivated rice, which can expand genetic diversity and improve rice's stress resistance (Chen et al., 2020). Overall, the cysteine synthase gene GRA78 has great application potential in rice breeding and biotechnology. By in-depth research and utilization of this gene, rice varieties with better leaf color, higher photosynthetic efficiency, and better overall health can be bred. This is of great significance for meeting the world's growing food demand and achieving sustainable agricultural goals.
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