Imagine if scientists could ‘delete’ a plant’s vulnerability to disease like editing a text message? That’s exactly what a team in the Chinese mainland just did—using gene editing to boost wheat’s defense against stripe rust, a fungal disease so destructive it’s called wheat ‘cancer.’ Their 18-year quest, led by Prof. Wang Xiaojie, has unlocked a game-changer for agriculture.
The Gene Behind the Cure
Researchers identified a gene, TaPsIPK1, that makes wheat susceptible to stripe rust. By tweaking it with CRISPR-like tech (yes, the same tool used for designer crops ), they created wheat plants that went from ‘highly vulnerable’ to ‘resilient superheroes’—without sacrificing yield! Field trials showed the edited wheat kept its original growth traits, making it farm-ready. Results were published in the journal Cell in 2022.
What’s Next? A Triple Threat Shield
The team now aims to engineer wheat resistant to three major diseases: stripe rust, powdery mildew, and gibberellic disease. Prof. Wang calls this a leap toward ‘green agriculture’—key for feeding a growing population amid climate challenges. With 780 million tons of wheat produced globally yearly, this tech could be a lifeline for food security.
Their 18-year quest, led by Prof. Wang Xiaojie, has unlocked a game-changer for agriculture.
), they created wheat plants that went from ‘highly vulnerable’ to ‘resilient superheroes’—without sacrificing yield! Field trials showed the edited wheat kept its original growth traits, making it farm-ready. Results were published in the journal Cell in 2022.
With 780 million tons of wheat produced globally yearly, this tech could be a lifeline for food security.
