Amino acid transporter OsATL13 coordinately regulates rice yield and quality by transporting phenylalanine and methionine

Amino acids are crucial nutrients for growth in crops. In this study, we found an amino acid transporter-like 13 (OsATL13), that coordinately determined rice yield and quality. OsATL13 was primarily expressed in the root and panicle, its protein was localized on plasma membrane, and it principally transported phenylalanine and methionine. Overexpression (OE) of OsATL13 increased the tiller number by 31.4 %, resulting in a 16.18 % increase in grain yield compared to Zhonghua 11 (ZH11). It also decreased amylose content and increased protein content in OsATL13 OE lines compared to ZH11, whereas the OsATL13 mutant exhibited opposite effects. RNA-seq analysis revealed that upregulation of OsATL13 influenced the expression of genes associated with nitrogen and starch metabolism pathways. Notably, exogenous treatment with phenylalanine and methionine promoted axillary buds outgrowth, increased tiller number and rice yield, improved milled and head rice rates, and decreased chalky rice rate. Furthermore, rapid viscosity analysis supported the observation that phenylalanine and methionine treatments influenced rice eating and cooking quality. This research offers new perspectives on the synchronized enhancement of both rice yield and quality with amino acid transporter OsATL13.