Rice最新文献

Rice production is gravely threatened by bacterial leaf streak (BLS). BLS prevention and control rely heavily on chemical pesticides, which contaminate the environment and endanger human health. Here, we evaluated the effects of inducer of plant resistance ZhiNengCong (ZNC), which is derived from endophytic fungi Paecilomyces variotii, the chemical pesticide dioctyl diethylenetriamine (DDL) and the antibiotic pesticide zhongshengmycin (ZSM) on grain size and quality of diseased- rice (DR). BLS significantly reduced the thousand-grain weight and seed setting rate of rice plants, which could be restored by ZNC rather than DDL or ZSM. Transcriptome and metabolomics profiling showed that ZNC increased the expression levels of resistance-, growth- and sugars, amino acids and lipid metabolism-related genes in DR leaves and restored the levels of carbohydrates, vitamins, nucleotides and amino acids in DR grains, which is better than DDL and ZSM. This study demonstrates that plant immune inducers are more effective than conventional pesticides in restoring DR yield and quality, which provides novel insights into the innovation of green biopesticides in sustainable crop production.

Salt stress is a major limiting factor for rice productivity worldwide, and improving salt tolerance is crucial for ensuring sustainable agricultural production. In this study, we investigate the use of RNA aptamers to modulate eukaryotic initiation factor 4 A (eIF4A), a key regulator of translation initiation under stress conditions, to enhance salt stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa). Using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), we isolated high-affinity RNA aptamers that specifically bind to eIF4A. One aptamer, eApt-2, was found to bind eIF4A with high affinity, selectively blocking cap-dependent translation initiation. Radioisotope‑based helicase assays confirmed that eApt‑2 does not impair eIF4A's intrinsic RNA‑unwinding activity. Transfected rice expressing eApt-2 exhibited enhanced salt stress tolerance, with improved growth, biomass accumulation, and photosynthetic activity under saline conditions. Moreover, stable transgenic rice lines expressing eApt‑2 maintained enhanced growth and biomass accumulation under 150 mM NaCl stress, mirroring transient expression results, and transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed similar tolerance. Our results demonstrate the potential of RNA aptamers as a precise, reversible tool for enhancing stress resilience in crops, offering an alternative to conventional genetic modification methods. This study opens new avenues for engineering salt-tolerant rice and highlights the broader applicability of RNA aptamers in improving plant responses to abiotic stresses.

Seed storability is critical for seed production and germplasm conservation. Numerous studies have linked seed storability to abscisic acid (ABA) metabolism; however, the use of biotechnological approaches to strategically and rapidly enhance seed storability in rice through manipulation of ABA biosynthesis genes remains unexplored. In the current study, we developed overexpression lines (OE) of OsABA2, which encodes a XANTHOXIN DEHYDROGENASE, a key enzyme in the ABA synthesis pathway. Our experimental results showed that the relative expression of OsABA2 was upregulated in response to artificial aging treatment. The germination rate of OsABA2-OE lines was significantly higher, while the electrical conductivity of the seed leachate was lower compared to the wild type (WT), indicating improved seed vigor. Following artificial aging treatments, OsABA2-OE lines exhibited less pronounced changes in storage substances such as sugars and total starch, relative to WT. Reduced diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining intensity in OsABA2-OE lines suggested lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Correspondingly, the contents of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde were lower, whereas catalase activity and total antioxidant capacity were higher in OsABA2-OE lines after artificial aging treatments. Comparative transcriptome analysis further revealed that the overexpression of OsABA2 may enhance seed storability by modulating the expression of ROS scavenging genes. For practical application, Gang46B-a hybrid rice parental line with poor storability-significantly improved its post-aging germination rates. These findings demonstrate that the overexpression of OsABA2 enhances seed storability by regulating ABA biosynthesis pathway and associated oxidative response. Thus, OsABA2 represents a promising molecular target for precise improvement of seed storage traits. This approach could be utilized for the improvement of seed storability in rice and other crops, offering valuable implications for the seed industry.

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micronutrient for plants, forming the Mo cofactor (Moco) necessary for molybdoenzyme activity. While only a single type of molybdate transporter (MOT) has been identified in plants, other Mo transporters remain unknown. In this study, we identified a novel Mo transporter gene, OsDISMO1 (Oryza sativa Distributor of Molybdenum 1), through the characterization of a high Mo grain mutant in rice. Gene mapping of the mutant and the phenotype of knockout mutants demonstrated that OsDISMO1 is responsible for the observed mutant phenotype. Mo concentration analysis in various leaf tissues of three-week-old seedlings revealed higher Mo levels in the young leaves of the mutant compared to the wild type Hitomebore (HB), while the flag leaf of the mutant had lower Mo levels than the HB. OsDISMO1 promoter-GUS analysis indicated expression in the vascular bundles of shoots, particularly in the phloem. Additionally, a GFP-fused OsDISMO1 protein was localised to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in rice protoplasts. The ability of OsDISMO1 to transport Mo was confirmed through heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These findings suggest that OsDISMO1 is a Mo transporter, facilitating the movement of Mo from old to new or source tissues.

Rice is one of the most important staple crops, providing food for more than one-half of the world's population worldwide. Identifying the localization of encoded proteins is the key to understanding their functional characteristics and facilitating their purification. The prediction of protein localization experimentally is time-consuming due to the need for meticulous experimentation, validation, and data analysis; computational methods provide a quick and accurate alternative. We propose RSLpred-2.0, an extension of our previously developed and widely used RSLpred-1.0 tool for annotating the rice proteome. RSLpred-2.0 is implemented in four levels to accurately predict protein subcellular localization. The first level differentiates between single and dual localization with accuracy (97.66% in 5-fold training/testing, 98.12% on an independent data) and Matthews correlation coefficient (0.88 training, 0.90 independent). Single localized proteins are classified into ten classes at the second level, with accuracy (98.33% in 5-fold training/testing, 98.46% on an independent data) and Matthews correlation coefficient (0.95 training, 0.95 independent). The third level categorizes dual localized proteins into six classes with accuracy (99.20% in 5-fold training/testing, 96.75% on an independent data) and Matthews correlation coefficient (0.98 training, 0.90 independent). The fourth level classifies membrane proteins predicted in level 1 into single-pass and multi-pass membranes with accuracy (99.83% in 5-fold training/testing, 98.81% on an independent data) and Matthews correlation coefficient (0.99 training, 0.97 independent). The RSLpred2 tool will help the researchers understand many organelle-specific functions, cellular processes, and regulatory mechanisms essential for plant growth, development, and response to environmental stimuli. The web server as well as its standalone version of the software developed from this study is available freely at https://kaabil.net/RSLpred2/ .

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been a vital staple crop in East and Southeast Asia for thousands of years, playing a key role in the development of human civilizations. Over time, different ethnic groups in these regions have selected rice varieties that suit their tastes and local growing conditions. As people migrated, they often brought their preferred rice varieties with them, contributing to the greater diversity of rice across regions. The Mon-Khmer-speaking peoples are believed to be the first settlers to introduce rice cultivation from southern China to northern Thailand during the Neolithic period. There are currently various indigenous rice varieties still being cultivated in Mon-Khmer communities of northern Thailand, but little is known about the genetic diversity of these rice varieties. This study examines 100 rice samples collected from 11 villages representing the Khmuic and Palaungic language branches of the Mon-Khmer group. Morphological analysis revealed differences in pericarp coloration, with Khmuic rice predominantly exhibiting off-white, brown, and black colors, while Palaungic rice tended to be lighter, including light and red shades. Genome-wide analysis identified two primary genetic clusters corresponding to these ethnolinguistic groups. Khmuic rice displayed high genetic homogeneity and characteristics of Subtropical Japonica rice, suggesting a stable lineage with limited seed exchange. In contrast, Palaungic rice exhibited greater genetic diversity, composed of both Japonica and Indica rice, likely due to extensive seed-sharing networks. Our findings provide insights into the relationship between ethnolinguistic groups and rice diversity, highlighting the importance of preserving indigenous rice varieties. This research also contributes to identifying novel genetic resources that may be useful for future rice breeding and improvement programs.

Salt damage significantly affects rice growth and development, posing a threat to food security. Understanding the mechanisms underlying rice's response to salt stress is crucial for enhancing its tolerance. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic and physiological mechanisms of rice adaptation to salt stress. We found that the expression of OsKEA1, a potassium (K⁺)-efflux antiporter gene in rice, was induced by salt. Both genetic and physiological experiments demonstrated that the mutation in OsKEA1 disrupted the Na⁺/K⁺ balance under salt stress conditions. Furthermore, OsKEA1 mutation exacerbated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, disrupted the antioxidant enzyme system, and compromised chloroplast integrity under salt stress. This study unveils the adaptive mechanisms of rice to salt damage and highlights the critical role of OsKEA1 in managing salt stress.

Rice is a staple crop and a primary food source for nearly half of the global population. Its cultivation is heavily dependent on irrigation systems, which is crucial in determining productivity. Beyond irrigation, the genetic characteristic of rice significantly influences its growth, resilience, and yield. These factors are closely connected to the soil microbiome within the rhizosphere, where interactions between plants, soil, and microbes occur, ultimately affecting agricultural outcomes. Different rice genotypes and agricultural practices shape soil microbiomes uniquely, impacting crop resilience and yield. Additionally, the growth stage of rice influences root exudation patterns, which in turn affects the composition and functionality of the rhizospheric microbiome. As the plant matures, the quantity and quality of root exudates evolve alongside its physiological changes, further modifying microbial communities in the surrounding soil. This review explores the complex interplay among irrigation strategies, rice genotypes, and growth phases, examining their collective impact on soil microbial diversity, offering insights into leveraging soil microbiomes for sustainable crop management and enhanced production. In addition it also highlights biotechnological tools and approaches that may be utilized in sustainable rice farming.

Iron (Fe) is essential for normal plant growth and development. In rice, Fe deficiency leads to stunted growth, leaf chlorosis, reduced photosynthetic capacity, and ultimately, yield loss. Most studies have focused on investigating the mechanisms of Fe deficiency responses in rice roots; however, the effects of shoot Fe redistribution on Fe deficiency response remain poorly understood. Phloem transport plays a vital role in distributing Fe to new tissues. To investigate the effects of enhanced phloem-mediated Fe transport on rice adaptability to iron deficiency, we subjected transgenic lines with higher phloem Fe efflux rates and wild-type (WT) plants to Fe-deficient conditions. The growth, leaf photosynthetic rate, and Fe content of transgenic and WT seedlings under different Fe concentrations were compared. The results showed that the transgenic lines exhibited elevated shoot length, root length, shoot dry weight, leaf chlorophyll content, and net photosynthetic rates under Fe-deficient conditions. Under both Fe-sufficient and Fe-deficient conditions, the transgenic lines had significantly higher Fe content, Fe accumulation, and phloem Fe efflux rates than the WT. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that enhanced Fe transport via phloem resulted in improved Fe availability through the sequestration of Fe ions and vacuolar transport pathways in the shoots. It also upregulated the EARLY LESION LEAF 1 (ELL1) expression and modulated the sucrose synthase activity, thereby promoting chlorophyll synthesis and leaf photosynthesis. Additionally, enhanced Fe transport influenced the gibberellin (GA) catabolism and plant hormone signal transduction in the roots, reducing the GA content and modulating the cytokinin (CTK), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ETH) signaling to induce Fe deficiency response and promote Fe uptake. These findings demonstrate that phloem-mediated Fe transport participated in Fe deficiency response, and enhancing this improved the adaptability of rice seedlings to low Fe conditions. In specific, rice seedlings with a high capacity for phloem-mediated Fe transport exhibited a strong iron uptake, translocation, and remobilization capacity, thereby maintaining normal growth and development and successfully adapting to the low-Fe environment.

Plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to cope with drought stress. A resilient root system, coupled with appropriate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is crucial for optimal growth and increased yield under drought stress. Accumulating studies have shown a strong link between root development, ROS, and drought tolerance. WOX11, as a master regulator of crown root (CR) development in rice, also governs root redox metabolism. However, it remains unknown whether WOX11 modulates ROS homeostasis in roots to facilitate adaptation to drought stress. In this study, we found that WOX11 directly binds to the promoter of the peroxidase gene OsPRX130, thereby enhancing drought tolerance by regulating CR growth. Notably, OsPRX130 is predominantly expressed in rice roots and its expression is induced by drought stress. Knockout of OsPRX130 inhibited CR growth by reducing ROS levels, ultimately compromising the drought tolerance in rice. Taken together, our findings shed light on the mechanism by which WOX11 mediates ROS accumulation through modulating the class III peroxidase gene OsPRX130 during rice CR development. This provides new insights into the functions of PRX genes during CR development. More importantly, our results deepen our understanding of how WOX11 regulates root development to enhance drought tolerance in rice and provide an alternative breeding strategy using WOX11 to control root system architecture for developing crop varieties with high drought adaptability.