Rapid analysis of transgenic rice straw using near-infrared spectroscopy

A rapid near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy method was established to predict the lignin and starch contents and enzymatic saccharification efficiency of transgenic rice (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare) straw wherein expression of genes encoding lignin synthetic enzymes are regulated. Strong correlations were obtained between laboratory wet chemistry values and the NIR-predicted values. This method is useful to develop transgenic rice where cell-wall formation is engineered.