A point mutation in VIG1 boosts development and chilling tolerance in rice.

The rice paddy-direct seeding system has been widely adopted due to its low cost and convenience, whereas its application is mainly constrained by low seedling vigor, cold sensitivity, eventually resulting in reduced grain yield. Here, we show vig1a and vig1b, two allelic mutants of OsbZIP01, that both demonstrate greatly enhanced seedling vigor and chilling tolerance but differ in final grain production. The vig1a phenotype can be obtained via simultaneous mutation of the genes OsbZIP01 and OsbZIP18, or by selectively manipulating the basic region of OsbZIP01.

SLG2 specifically regulates grain width through WOX11-mediated cell expansion control in rice.

Grain size is specified by three dimensions of length, width and thickness, and slender grain is a desirable quality trait in rice. Up to now, many grain size regulators have been identified. However, most of these molecules show influence on multi-dimensions of grain development, and only a few of them function specifically in grain width, a key factor determining grain yield and appearance quality.

Separable regulation of POW1 in grain size and leaf angle development in rice.

Leaf angle is one of the key factors that determines rice plant architecture. However, the improvement of leaf angle erectness is often accompanied by unfavourable changes in other traits, especially grain size reduction. In this study, we identified the pow1 (put on weight 1) mutant that leads to increased grain size and leaf angle, typical brassinosteroid (BR)-related phenotypes caused by excessive cell proliferation and cell expansion.

The LARGE2-APO1/APO2 regulatory module controls panicle size and grain number in rice.

Panicle size and grain number are important agronomic traits and influence grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa), but the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying panicle size and grain number control remain largely unknown in crops. Here we report that LARGE2 encodes a HECT-domain E3 ubiquitin ligase OsUPL2 and regulates panicle size and grain number in rice. The loss of function large2 mutants produce large panicles with increased grain number, wide grains and leaves, and thick culms.

Natural variations of SLG1 confer high-temperature tolerance in indica rice.

With global warming and climate change, breeding crop plants tolerant to high-temperature stress is of immense significance. tRNA 2-thiolation is a highly conserved form of tRNA modification among living organisms. Here, we report the identification of SLG1 (Slender Guy 1), which encodes the cytosolic tRNA 2-thiolation protein 2 (RCTU2) in rice.

A point mutation in LTT1 enhances cold tolerance at the booting stage in rice.

The cold tolerance of rice at the booting stage is a main factor determining sustainability and regional adaptability. However, relatively few cold tolerance genes have been identified that can be effectively used in breeding programmes. Here, we show that a point mutation in the low-temperature tolerance 1 (LTT1) gene improves cold tolerance by maintaining tapetum degradation and pollen development, by activation of systems that metabolize reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Control of Grain Size and Weight by the OsMKKK10-OsMKK4-OsMAPK6 Signaling Pathway in Rice.

Grain size is one of the key agronomic traits that determine grain yield in crops. However, the mechanisms underlying grain size control in crops remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that the OsMKKK10-OsMKK4-OsMAPK6 signaling pathway positively regulates grain size and weight in rice.

Short and Solid Culm/RFL/APO2 for culm development in rice.

The culm development of rice is characterized by elongation and medullary cavity (MC) formation, which are determined by node formation meristem and residual meristem, respectively. Although many factors have been shown to affect culm elongation, molecules involved in MC formation remained to be identified. In this study, we show that a point mutation in SHORT and SOLID CULM (SSC), the rice homologue of Arabidopsis LFY, resulted in plants with drastically reduced culm length and completely abolished MC formation.

CRR1 encoding callose synthase functions in ovary expansion by affecting vascular cell patterning in rice.

The ovary of rice undergoes rapid expansion immediately after fertilization, and this process determines the final sink strength potential of caryopses. To date, work on rice grain development has mainly focused on endosperm filling, whereas information on the essential elements for ovary expansion remains limited. We report here a functional analysis of the ovary expansion retarded mutant crr1 in rice.

The superwoman1-cleistogamy2 mutant is a novel resource for gene containment in rice.

Outcrossing between cultivated plants and their related wild species may result in the loss of favourable agricultural traits in the progeny or escape of transgenes in the environment. Outcrossing can be physically prevented by using cleistogamous (i.e.

ALT1, a Snf2 family chromatin remodeling ATPase, negatively regulates alkaline tolerance through enhanced defense against oxidative stress in rice.

Alkaline salt stress adversely affects rice growth, productivity and grain quality. However, the mechanism underlying this process remains elusive. We characterized here an alkaline tolerant mutant, alt1 in rice.

Unequal genetic redundancy of rice PISTILLATA orthologs, OsMADS2 and OsMADS4, in lodicule and stamen development.

Two homologs of PISTILLATA have been identified in rice: OsMADS2 and OsMADS4. However, their roles in floral organ development are controversial. Here, we demonstrate that the genes show unequal redundancy of class B function.

SHA1, a novel RING finger protein, functions in shoot apical meristem maintenance in Arabidopsis.

Post-embryonic plant growth is dependent on a functional shoot apical meristem (SAM) that provides cells for continuous development of new aerial organs. However, how the SAM is dynamically maintained during vegetative development remains largely unclear. We report here the characterization of a new SAM maintenance mutant, sha1-1 (shoot apical meristem arrest 1-1), that shows a primary SAM-deficient phenotype at the adult stage.