Rhythmic Timekeeping in Rice: Emerging Mechanisms and Regulatory Networks

The circadian clock is an endogenous time-keeping mechanism found in most eukaryotes that integrates external signals to synchronize biological processes with the environment. Circadian and diel rhythms across multiple regulatory layers help coordinate gene expression underlying plant processes such as metabolism, stress responses, and agronomic traits. In the context of a changing environment, a comprehensive understanding of how circadian-mediated regulatory mechanisms can contribute to plant resilient strategies continues to be a priority. In this mini review, we highlight the pleiotropic functions of the rice circadian clock in coordinating diverse processes.