The WD40 repeat protein OsDPMS1 controls pistil development and female fertility in rice

The pistil, a key female reproductive organ in flowering plants, plays a critical role in sexual reproduction. Although pistil function has been well studied in some species, the molecular mechanisms governing its development in rice (Oryza sativa) remain unclear. Here, we isolated and characterized a female-sterile rice mutant, Osdpms1, which exhibits pleiotropic reproductive defects, including greater stigma number and aberrant gametophyte development, while maintaining normal vegetative growth and male fertility. Using map-based cloning, genetic complementation, and CRISPR-Cas9 knockout experiments, we determined that LOC_Os07g03160 (named OsDPMS1), encoding a protein containing a WD40 repeat domain, is the causal gene underlying the mutant phenotype. OsDPMS1 was predominantly expressed during the flowering stage, and subcellular localization experiments revealed that OsDPMS1 localizes to both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Using yeast 2-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and GST-pull-down assays, we demonstrated that OsDPMS1 physically interacts with 3 components of the 26S proteasome pathway: OsUBQ, OsCDC48, and OsCDC48E. Furthermore, we showed that the female sterility of Osdpms1 can be efficiently maintained via seed production technology. When we combined Osdpms1 with male-sterile lines for hybrid seed production in a mixed planting manner, we achieved yield potentials comparable to those using conventional row-planting methods. Our findings establish OsDPMS1 as a critical regulator of pistil development and female fertility in rice and highlight its potential application in hybrid rice breeding programs.