Improving Seed\nShattering Resistance in Wild O. alta Rice with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle\nDelivery Systems

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