Construction of a weight-based seed sorting system for the third-generation hybrid rice

Abstract Background The third-generation hybrid rice technology can be constructed by transforming a recessive nuclear male sterile (NMS) mutant with transgenic cassette containing three functional modules: the wild type fertility gene to restore of mutant, pollen killer that specifically kills grains carrying transgene, and red fluorescence protein ( RFP ) mark seed (maintainer). plant produces 1:1 NMS seeds maintainer distinguished signal. However, signals in partially filled or pathogen-infected are often too weak detected RFP-based sorting machine, resulting intermingling seeds. Results Here we weight-based system for silencing genes encoding ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) essential endosperm starch biosynthesis via endosperm-specific expression artificial microRNAs amiRNA s). In this system, have normal heavy, but shrunken endosperms light-weighted. easily accurately sorted out from weight-sorting machines, so pure fully available. Conclusions shows obvious advantages over accuracy, efficiency, cost propagation These characteristics will significantly increase value safety technology.