Ethylene-gibberellin signaling underlies adaptation of rice to periodic flooding.

Abstract

Most plants do poorly when flooded. Certain rice varieties, known as deepwater rice, survive periodic flooding and consequent oxygen deficiency by activating internode growth of stems to keep above the water. Here, we identify the gibberellin biosynthesis gene, SD1 (SEMIDWARF1), whose loss-of-function allele catapulted the rice Green Revolution, as being responsible for submergence-induced internode elongation. When submerged, plants carrying the deepwater rice-specific SD1 haplotype amplify a signaling relay in which the SD1 gene is transcriptionally activated by an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, OsEIL1a. The SD1 protein directs increased synthesis of gibberellins, largely GA4, which promote internode elongation. Evolutionary analysis shows that the deepwater rice-specific haplotype was derived from standing variation in wild rice and selected for deepwater rice cultivation in Bangladesh.

• Authors: Takeshi Kuroha, Keisuke Nagai, Rico Gamuyao, Diane R Wang, Tomoyuki Furuta, Masanari Nakamori, Takuya Kitaoka, Keita Adachi, Anzu Minami, Yoshinao Mori, Kiyoshi Mashiguchi, Yoshiya Seto, Shinjiro Yamaguchi, Mikiko Kojima, Hitoshi Sakakibara, Jianzhong Wu, Kaworu Ebana, Nobutaka Mitsuda, Masaru Ohme-Takagi, Shuichi Yanagisawa, Masanori Yamasaki, Ryusuke Yokoyama, Kazuhiko Nishitani, Toshihiro Mochizuki, Gen Tamiya, Susan R McCouch, Motoyuki Ashikari
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 361 Issue 6398 Pg. 181-186 (07 13 2018) ISSN: 1095-9203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30002253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Chemical References

• Ethylenes
• Gibberellins
• Transcription Factors
• ethylene

Topics

• Adaptation, Physiological
• Alleles
• Ethylenes (metabolism)
• Floods
• Genes, Plant (physiology)
• Gibberellins (genetics, physiology)
• Haplotypes
• Oryza (genetics, growth & development)
• Transcription Factors (genetics, physiology)