Gene Editing Enhances Oil Yield and Quality of Jatropha

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangxi University have identified a gene that could significantly improve the commercial potential of Jatropha curcas, a drought-tolerant shrub widely seen as a promising source of biodiesel and bio-jet fuel. A new study reports that targeted genetic modification can increase both seed yield and oil content in Jatropha.

The study identified JcSPL9 acts as a master switch that determines when the plant transitions from growing leaves to producing flowers and seeds. In this study, the researchers edited the plants to overexpress a modified form of JcSPL9, known as rJcSPL9, and compared them with plants in which a related regulatory molecule, JcmiR156a, was increased.

The results showed that rJcSPL9 plants produced 80.76% more seeds and 12.6% higher oil content, while plants with elevated JcmiR156a experienced a 51.67% drop in seed yield and an 8.27% decrease in oil content. The researchers concluded that JcSPL9 is a promising target for molecular breeding in Jatropha and other major oilseed crops, including soybean, canola, and sunflower, to help meet growing demand for biofuels and renewable resources.

For more information, read the article from the Chinese Academy of Sciences or read the study from Plant Biotechnology Journal.