Natural variation in the ORL4 promoter regulates rice leaf rolling to modulate leaf architecture and yield - PubMed
4 hours ago
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- #yield
- #rice
- Natural variation in the ORL4 promoter regulates rice leaf rolling, affecting leaf architecture and yield.
- GWAS identified 32 loci associated with the leaf rolling index (LRI), with ORL4 as a key regulatory gene.
- CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of ORL4 caused abaxially rolled leaves due to bulliform cell proliferation and disrupted vascular patterning.
- A promoter variant (Chr04_19562737-C/T) influences ORL4 expression by altering ROC8 transcription factor binding affinity.
- ORL4C allele carriers show higher ORL4 expression and adaxially rolled or flat leaves, while ORL4T carriers exhibit the opposite.
- ORL4 forms a complex with ROC8 and TPL2 to suppress ACL1, a regulator of bulliform cell differentiation.
- ORL4C and ORL4T alleles originated from O. nivara and O. rufipogon, with differential domestication preferences in Geng and Xian rice.
- Promoter editing of ORL4 in 'Shennong 89-366' enhanced LRI and significantly increased yield in field trials.
- This study provides insights into leaf rolling genetics and a strategy for rice yield improvement via promoter editing.