Control of grain size, shape and quality by OsSPL16 in rice

2012/06/26 21:43:54

Shaokui Wang, Kun Wu, Qingbo Yuan, Xueying Liu, Zhengbin Liu, Xiaoyan Lin, Ruizhen Zeng, Haitao Zhu, Guojun Dong, Qian Qian, Guiquan Zhang & Xiangdong Fu

Nature Genetics (2012) doi:10.1038/ng.2327

Grain size and shape are important components of grain yield and quality and have been under selection since cereals were first domesticated. Here, we show that a quantitative trait locus GW8 is synonymous with OsSPL16, which encodes a protein that is a positive regulator of cell proliferation. Higher expression of this gene promotes cell division and grain filling, with positive consequences for grain width and yield in rice. Conversely, a loss-of-function mutation in Basmati rice is associated with the formation of a more slender grain and better quality of appearance. The correlation between grain size and allelic variation at the GW8 locus suggests that mutations within the promoter region were likely selected in rice breeding programs. We also show that a marker-assisted strategy targeted at elite alleles of GS3 and OsSPL16 underlying grain size and shape can be effectively used to simultaneously improve grain quality and yield.

【中文翻译（偶翻译的比较矬）】

谷粒大小与形状是大米产量与质量的重要因素，自谷类驯化始起就一直处于育种选择压之下。在此，我们表明一个QTL，GW8，与OsSPL6同义，编码一种细胞增殖正调因子。此基因的高度表达促使细胞分裂与灌浆，与谷粒宽度和水稻产量正相关。相反，在Basmati水稻突变体中，此基因的功能缺失导致谷粒更为细长，以及更好的表观品质。谷粒大小与GW8位点处等位基因变异的相关性表明，启动子区的突变很可能是在水稻育种过程中所选择。同时，我们也表明，导向影响谷粒大小与形状的GS3与OsSPL6优良等位基因的标记辅助育种可以有效地应用于同时改善水稻质量与产量。