A frameshift mutation in <i>JAZ10</i> resolves the growth versus defense dilemma in rice.

Abstract

CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing systems have revolutionized plant gene functional studies by enabling the targeted introduction of insertion-deletions (INDELs) via the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway. Frameshift-inducing INDELs can introduce a premature termination codon and, in other instances, can lead to the appearance of new proteins. Here, we found that mutations in the rice jasmonate (JA) signaling gene <i>OsJAZ10</i> by CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing did not affect canonical JA signaling. However, a type of mutant with an INDEL that yielded a novel frameshift protein named FJ10 (<i><u>F</u>rameshift mutation of <u>J</u>AZ<u>10</u></i>), exhibited enhanced rice growth and increased resistance to brown planthopper attacks. Overexpression of <i>FJ10</i> in wild-type plants phenocopies <i>OsJAZ10</i> frameshift mutants. Further characterization revealed that FJ10 interacts with Slender Rice 1 (OsSLR1) and F-box/Kelch 16 (OsFBK16). These interactions disrupt the function of OsSLR1 in suppressing gibberellin-mediated growth and the function of OsFBK16 in repressing lignin-mediated defense responses, respectively. Field experiments with <i>FJ10</i>-expressing plants demonstrate that this protein uncouples the growth-defense tradeoff, opening broad avenues to obtain cultivars with enhanced yield without compromised defenses.