One toxin and two protectors: A genetic conflict underlying rice hybrid sterility
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Updated: Oct 31, 2026

Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation, Transgenic Production, and Its Application for the Study of Male Reproductive Development in Rice
Published on: October 6, 2020
1Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan; Genetics Program, Department of Advanced Studies, Graduate University for Advanced Studies/SOKENDAI, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.
Abstract:
Hybrid sterility between divergent rice species remains a major barrier to exploiting hybrid vigor (heterosis) in rice breeding. He et al.1 identify RHS3 as a tripartite genetic conflict system encoding one toxic and two protective factors, revealing how genetic conflict can evolve into a reproductive barrier between diverging rice species.
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