Warm nights disrupt transcriptome rhythms in field-grown rice panicles

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Elevated nighttime temperatures negatively impact rice yield and grain quality.
• The precise molecular mechanisms by which warm nighttime temperatures (WNT) cause these detrimental effects, particularly in field conditions, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genome-wide effects of WNT on gene expression timing during the reproductive phase in field-grown rice.
• To identify molecular regulators and transcripts sensitive to WNT to understand rice productivity reduction.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of gene expression timing in rice panicles acclimated to controlled WNT (2-3 °C increase).
• Comparison of WNT sensitivity between rhythmic, circadian-regulated, and nonrhythmic transcripts.
• Network analysis to identify transcriptional regulators targeted by WNT.

Main Results:

• WNT caused genome-wide disruption of gene expression timing in rice reproductive tissues.
• Rhythmic and circadian-regulated transcripts were more sensitive to WNT than nonrhythmic ones.
• Identification of specific transcriptional regulators and affected transcripts linked to WNT sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• WNT disrupt the temporal coordination of molecular events in rice, leading to reduced productivity.
• The identified molecular players provide targets for enhancing rice tolerance to WNT and improving crop resilience.