Phylogenetic analysis of rice cultivars for CYP93G1 and functional evaluation for apigenin and biofilm formation

Improving biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in rice is a long-standing vision for the researchers as it decreases the reliance on surplus usage of nitrogenous fertilizers. Enhancing plant signaling molecules, such as flavonoids, facilitates improved interactions between plants and microbes, thereby promoting increased biofilm formation. Apigenin, a key flavonoid in root exudates, induces the expression of the gumD gene in microbes, which is essential for exopolysaccharide synthesis (EPS), promoting microbial colonization of roots, biofilm formation, and potentially enhancing BNF. A phylogenetic analysis of 280 rice lines from the 3K RG panel, targeting the candidate gene CYP93G1, which is involved in apigenin synthesis, enabled the selection of nine genotypes for evaluating apigenin levels and biofilm formation. The results revealed that, despite having lower levels of apigenin, the promising genotypes Gokulganja, Local Bhat, and Nona Bokra exhibited significant biofilm formation compared to the other genotypes, suggesting their potential as effective cultivars for genome editing to enhance BNF. This is the first study to assess these traits concerning a specific gene in a 3K panel. Our findings demonstrated that targeted manipulation of tricin flavone biosynthetic pathway genes in these selected genotypes could significantly boost BNF, promoting ecological rice cultivation practices and advancing environmental sustainability.