The OsNL1-OsTOPLESS2-OsMOC1/3 pathway regulates high-order tiller outgrowth in rice.

Tiller is an important factor in determining rice yield. Currently, researches mainly focus on the outgrowth of low-order tiller (LOT), while the regulation mechanism of high-order tiller (HOT) outgrowth has remained unknown. In this study, we detected one OsNL1 mutant, nl1, exhibiting HOT numbers increase, and found that OsNL1 interacts with OsTOPLESS2, which was mediated by the core motif of nine amino acids VDCTLSLGT within the HAN domain of OsNL1.