Table 1_Hit me with your best shot: combining gene editing events to deliver iron and zinc biofortified rice.docx

We focus on candidate genes involved in vacuolar sequestration, metal chelator biosynthesis and transport, plasma membrane transport, regulatory pathways controlling metal homeostasis, and phytic acid metabolism affecting mineral bioavailability. Evidence from loss-of-function mutants, promoter engineering, natural allelic variation, and precise sequence editing demonstrates that targeted manipulation of these pathways can substantially enhance Fe and Zn accumulation, particularly in polished rice, without major yield penalty.

We further propose potential multiplex gene editing approaches to combine alleles and optimize metal allocation to the endosperm. These advances provide a framework for the rational development of next-generation, non-transgenic biofortified rice cultivars.</p>