Improving Seed Shattering Resistance in Wild <i>O. alta</i> Rice with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Delivery Systems

To address food security challenges and climate change, the polyploid wild rice <i>Oryza alta</i> has been explored as a potential crop, although it suffers from seed shattering. We employed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to deliver small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for targeted gene silencing. Foliar spraying of MSN-siRNA complexes effectively delivered siRNA, resulting in up to 70% gene silencing of the <i>PDS</i> gene and 75% silencing of the transgenic <i>Ruby</i> gene. Additionally, MSN-siRNAs were infiltrated into the panicles of <i>O. alta</i> to target four seed shattering major genes every other day for 2 weeks until heading outdoors. This method silenced all four shattering genes ranging from 10.7% to 49.4% and significantly reduced the formation of the abscission layer between rice grains and pedicels, which enhanced pedicel tensile strength. Our MSN-siRNA system provides a flexible, nonpermanent approach to modifying crop traits, offering a promising tool for sustainable agricultural practices.