en.Wedoany.com Reported - A research team at Chonnam National University has discovered a rice gene named OsFeSOD3, which supports chloroplast development while scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), boosting rice grain yield by 33% to 42% under drought conditions. The study was published online on December 17, 2025, in Plant Biotechnology Journal, Volume 24, Issue 4 (2026).
The research team was led by Professor Geupil Jang. Using time-lapse imaging of cellular ROS dynamics and genetic analysis, the researchers confirmed that drought-induced ROS accumulation primarily originates in chloroplasts and subsequently spreads throughout the cell. Increasing OsFeSOD3 expression reduces chloroplast ROS levels, limits overall cellular damage, and enhances drought tolerance in rice plants. Professor Jang explained that chloroplast development is highly sensitive to environmental stresses such as drought, and this sensitivity is closely linked to growth inhibition and yield reduction under stress conditions.
OsFeSOD3 encodes an iron superoxide dismutase localized in chloroplasts. The study also revealed that this protein functions as a component of the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) complex, regulating chloroplast biogenesis through direct interactions with other PEP complex proteins, thereby linking stress protection to the maintenance of photosynthetic capacity. This dual function enables the gene to simultaneously support chloroplast health and plant survival under adverse conditions.
To assess agricultural significance, the research team conducted field trials over two consecutive growing seasons. Rice plants overexpressing OsFeSOD3 exhibited 33%–42% higher grain yield than wild-type plants under drought conditions, with the yield increase primarily attributed to improved grain filling and a greater number of grains. Plants with the gene knocked out using CRISPR-Cas9 technology showed severe chloroplast defects, manifested as albino leaves and stunted growth, highlighting its critical role in normal development.
This discovery may help address the trade-off between productivity and stress tolerance in breeding. As climate stresses such as drought and heatwaves intensify, utilizing OsFeSOD3 to develop crops that maintain yield under adverse conditions could support food security in vulnerable regions worldwide.
Original paper title: OsFeSOD3 Functions as an Enzymatic Component of the PEP Complex, Bifunctionally Regulating Chloroplastic ROS Metabolism and Chloroplast Biogenesis in Rice. Journal: Plant Biotechnology Journal, Volume 24, Issue 4 (2026). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70508
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