A gene for better rice *IMAGES*

NATURE GENETICS

Genetics
Embargo

London: Monday 06 July 2015 16:00 (BST)

New York: Monday 06 July 2015 11:00 (EDT)

Tokyo: Tuesday 07 July 2015 00:00 (JST)

Sydney: Tuesday 07 July 2015 01:00 (AEST)
The discovery of gene variants that increase rice grain length and quality is reported in two
independent papers published online this week in Nature Genetics. Rice breeders may be able to
use the desirable version of this gene in combination with other gene variants known to affect
rice grain length, quality, and yield to breed improved strains of rice.
Higher quality rice typically has lower chalkiness and is enriched for other desirable
characteristics, within a given market, such as those related to cooking time, texture, and color.
While many genes have been identified that can increase grain yield, there are far fewer genes
known that breeders can use to control other aspects of rice quality. Two groups, working
independently, have now discovered mutations in a gene known as LOC_ Os07g41200 that
produce longer, more slender grains with less chalkiness. This increase in quality did not come at
the expense of yield.
Xiangdong Fu and colleagues crossed two varieties of rice, one considered to be of mediocre
quality and one of excellent quality, to locate the genes responsible for better quality. They found
that the gene variant from the “excellent” variety was expressed at higher levels, and this
correlated to more slender grains.
In a separate study, Jiayang Li and colleagues used a similar approach with different rice
varieties to locate the gene for improved quality. In their study, a duplication within the gene
caused higher gene expression, leading to longer grains and reduced chalkiness.
Both studies demonstrated that other gene variants known to improve yield or other traits
affecting quality could be combined with the high quality LOC_ Os07g41200 variant to produce
new elite varieties of rice.
Article and author details
1. Copy number variation at the GL7 locus contributes to grain
size diversity in rice
DOI
10.1038/ng.3346
Online paper*
http://nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/ng.3346
2. The OsSPL16-GW7 regulatory module determines grain shape
and simultaneously improves rice yield and grain quality
Corresponding Author
Xiangdong Fu
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Email: xdfu@genetics.ac.cn, Tel: +86 10 6480 6558
Corresponding Authors (DOI: 10.1038/ng.3346):
Jiayang Li
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Email: jyli@genetics.ac.cn Tel: +86 10 6480 6577
Xudong Zhu
China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
Email: ricezxd@126.com
Qian Qian
China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China
Email: qianqian188@hotmail.com
DOI
10.1038/ng.3352
Online paper*
http://nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/ng.3352
* Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).
Geographical listings of authors

China

Image 1

Caption: Copy number variation at the GL7 locus contributes to grain size diversity. The long-grain elite
variety, Xiahe, was developed from T461 through introduction of the beneficial allele of GL7.
Credit: Yuexing Wang

Downloads: Low resolution (149.76 KB) or High resolution (374.57 KB)

Image 2

Caption: Grain quality of hybrid rice combination derived from the CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) line
ZS97A (left) is only mediocre. In contrast, the hybrid rice combination developed from the CMS line TFA
(right) produces long and slender grains with the excellent quality.
Credit: Xiangdong Fu

Downloads: Low resolution (195.74 KB) or High resolution (2.89 MB)