# CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockup of OsDREB1C enhances rice yield without compromising grain quality

## TL;DR

Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 to improve rice yield by modifying a specific gene without affecting grain quality.

## Contribution

A transgene-free CRISPR-Cas9 method for increasing rice yield by over 20% is introduced.

## Key findings

- CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockup of OsDREB1C increased rice yield by over 20%.
- The modification did not compromise grain quality in the resulting plants.
- Homozygous plants were transgene-free, supporting safe crop improvement.

## Abstract

This study presents a CRISPR-Cas9-based strategy for engineering structural variations in the OsDREB1C gene in rice, leading to a yield increase of over 20% without compromising grain quality. The resulting homozygous plants are transgene-free, highlighting the potential of this approach for precise and effective crop improvement.