Molecular design of polysaccharides for improving the sustainable straw utilization value in rice

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Markus Pauly
• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 410274474

• Final Report Year: 2023

Final Report Abstract

Rice is a staple crop and a grass model plant for functional genome research. In order to improve the crop straw utilization value, we aimed at genetically manipulating biomass composition by editing several hemicellululose hydrolases and synthase genes. Using a synthetic biology approach expression of such genes in yeast or tobacco leaves indicated their enzymatic activity. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing approach, rice mutants were generated. Chemical analyses of the mutant biomass indicated an alteration in hemicellulose content. Such structural changes also facilitated plant growth and straw utilization. This study may thus provide valuable data for sustainable agriculture production and crop straw utilization.

Publications

• Emerging Roles of β-Glucanases in Plant Development and Adaptative Responses. Plants, 11(9), 1119.
  Perrot, Thomas; Pauly, Markus & Ramírez, Vicente