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Optimization of rice panicle architecture by specifically suppressing ligand-receptor pairs
Tao Guo1,2, Zi-Qi Lu1,2,3, Yehui Xiong4
1National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Rice panicle architecture is regulated by EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-LIKE (EPFL) peptides binding to the OsER1 receptor. Suppressing specific EPFL-OsER1 interactions enhances grain yield by optimizing spikelet number without impacting fertility.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Plant Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Rice panicle architecture is crucial for grain yield, influenced by cytokinin metabolism via the OsER1-OsMKKK10-OsMKK4-OsMPK6 pathway.
- The upstream ligands interacting with the OsER1 receptor in this pathway were previously unidentified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the upstream ligands that bind to the OsER1 receptor.
- To elucidate the role of these ligands in rice panicle development and their impact on grain yield.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the function of EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF)/EPF-LIKE (EPFL) peptides in rice.
- Utilized genetic analysis, including the creation and study of a osepfl6 osepfl7 osepfl9 triple mutant.
- Examined the interaction between EPFL peptides and the OsER1 receptor.
Main Results:
- Identified OsEPFL6, OsEPFL7, OsEPFL8, and OsEPFL9 as synergistic ligands for the OsER1 receptor, activating a mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade.
- These EPFL peptides negatively regulate spikelet number per panicle, with OsEPFL8 also affecting spikelet fertility.
- A triple mutant lacking OsEPFL6, OsEPFL7, and OsEPFL9 showed significantly increased grain yield without compromising spikelet fertility.
Conclusions:
- EPFL-OsER1 ligand-receptor signaling is essential for rice panicle morphogenesis.
- Targeting specific EPFL-OsER1 interactions offers a strategy to optimize rice panicle architecture for enhanced grain yield.
- This research provides insights into overcoming the trade-off between spikelet number and fertility in rice breeding.
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