Plant Architecture Research Articles

An AP2/ERF transcription factor confers chilling tolerance in rice.

Cold stress, a prominent adverse environmental factor, severely hinders rice growth and productivity. Unraveling the complex mechanisms governing chilling tolerance in rice is crucial for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant varieties. Here, we identify an APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor, OsERF52, as a positive modulator in response to low temperatures. OsERF52 directly regulates the expression of C-Repeat Binding Factor (CBF) genes in rice. In addition, Osmotic Stress/ABA-Activated Protein Kinase 9-mediated phosphorylation of OsERF52 at S261 enhances its stability and interaction with Ideal Plant Architecture 1 and OsbHLH002/OsICE1. This collaborative activation leads to the expression of OsCBFs, thereby initiating the chilling response in rice. Notably, plants with base-edited OsERF52S261D-3HA exhibit enhanced chilling resistance without yield penalty. Our findings unveil the mechanism orchestrated by a regulatory framework involving a protein kinase and transcription factors from diverse families, offering potential genetic resources for developing chilling-tolerant rice varieties.

OsCYP706C2 diverts rice strigolactone biosynthesis to a noncanonical pathway branch.

Strigolactones exhibit dual functionality as regulators of plant architecture and signaling molecules in the rhizosphere. The important model crop rice exudes a blend of different strigolactones from its roots. Here, we identify the inaugural noncanonical strigolactone, 4-oxo-methyl carlactonoate (4-oxo-MeCLA), in rice root exudate. Comprehensive, cross-species coexpression analysis allowed us to identify a cytochrome P450, OsCYP706C2, and two methyl transferases as candidate enzymes for this noncanonical rice strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. Heterologous expression in yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana indeed demonstrated the role of these enzymes in the biosynthesis of 4-oxo-MeCLA, which, expectedly, is derived from carlactone as substrate. The oscyp706c2 mutants do not exhibit a tillering phenotype but do have delayed mycorrhizal colonization and altered root phenotype. This work sheds light onto the intricate complexity of strigolactone biosynthesis in rice and delineates its role in symbiosis and development.

Mining Candidate Genes for Leaf Angle in Brassica napus L. by Combining QTL Mapping and RNA Sequencing Analysis.

Leaf angle (LA) is an important trait of plant architecture, and individuals with narrow LA can better capture canopy light under high-density planting, which is beneficial for increasing the overall yield per unit area. To study the genetic basis and molecular regulation mechanism of leaf angle in rapeseed, we carried out a series of experiments. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was performed using the RIL population, and seven QTLs were identified. Transcriptome analysis showed that the cell wall formation/biogenesis processes and biosynthesis/metabolism of cell wall components were the most enrichment classes. Most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the synthesis of lignin, xylan, and cellulose showed down-regulated expression in narrow leaf material. Microscopic analysis suggested that the cell size affected by the cell wall in the junction area of the stem and petiole was the main factor in leaf petiole angle (LPA) differences. Combining QTL mapping and RNA sequencing, five promising candidate genes BnaA01G0125600ZS, BnaA01G0135700ZS, BnaA01G0154600ZS, BnaA10G0154200ZS, and BnaC03G0294200ZS were identified in rapeseed, and most of them were involved in cell wall biogenesis and the synthesis/metabolism of cell wall components. The results of QTL, transcriptome analysis, and cytological analysis were highly consistent, collectively revealing that genes related to cell wall function played a crucial role in regulating the LA trait in rapeseed. The study provides further insights into LA traits, and the discovery of new QTLs and candidate genes is highly beneficial for genetic improvement.

Natural variation in the Tn1a promoter regulates tillering in rice.

Rice tillering is an important agronomic trait that influences plant architecture and ultimately affects yield. This can be genetically improved by mining favourable variations in genes associated with tillering. Based on a previous study on dynamic tiller number, we cloned the gene Tiller number 1a (Tn1a), which encodes a membrane-localised protein containing the C2 domain that negatively regulates tillering in rice. A 272 bp insertion/deletion at 387 bp upstream of the start codon in the Tn1a promoter confers a differential transcriptional response and results in a change in tiller number. Moreover, the TCP family transcription factors Tb2 and TCP21 repress the Tn1a promoter activity by binding to the TCP recognition site within the 272 bp indel. In addition, we identified that Tn1a may affect the intracellular K+ content by interacting with a cation-chloride cotransporter (OsCCC1), thereby affecting the expression of downstream tillering-related genes. The Tn1a+272 bp allele, associated with high tillering, might have been preferably preserved in rice varieties in potassium-poor regions during domestication. The discovery of Tn1a is of great significance for further elucidating the genetic basis of tillering characteristics in rice and provides a new and favourable allele for promoting the geographic adaptation of rice to soil potassium.

PhSPEAR1 Participates in Regulating the Branch Development of Petunia

Petunia hybrida is an economically important ornamental plant species. Branching in ornamental plants is closely associated with their ornamental traits, and branching is a significant agronomic trait in petunia, which shapes plant architecture and production cost. Although there are few studies regarding the involvement of the SPEAR genes in lateral branch development, they are known to regulate the development of plant organs. The PhSPEAR1 gene in petunia, an ortholog of Arabidopsis SPEAR1, was isolated for study. According to the results of real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), PhSPEAR1 was primarily expressed in the roots. The nucleus-specific fluorescence signal indicated that PhSPEAR1 was localized in the nucleus. An increase in PhSPEAR1 expression was induced by cytokinin or decapitation. Overexpression of PhSPEAR1 increased lateral branches in Arabidopsis. Based on our findings, PhSPEAR1 participates significantly in the regulation of branch number in petunia.

Integrating RTM-GWAS and meta‑QTL data revealed genomic regions and candidate genes associated with the first fruit branch node and its height in upland cotton.

Two genomic regions associated with FFBN and HFFBN and a potential regulatory gene (GhE6) of HFFBN were identified through the integration of RTM-GWAS and meta‑QTL analyses. Abstract The first fruit branch node (FFBN) and the height of the first fruit branch node (HFFBN) are two important traits that are related to plant architecture and early maturation in upland cotton. Several studies have been conducted to elucidate the genetic basis of these traits in cotton using biparental and natural populations. In this study, by using 9,244 SNP linkage disequilibrium block (SNPLDB) loci from 315 upland cotton accessions, we carried out restricted two-stage multilocus and multiallele genome-wide association studies (RTM-GWASs) and identified promising haplotypes/alleles of the four stable and true major SNPLDB loci that were significantly associated with FFBN and HFFBN. Additionally, a meta-quantitative trait locus (MQTL) analysis was conducted on 274 original QTLs that were reported in 27 studies, and 40 MQTLs associated with FFBN and HFFBN were identified. Through the integration of the RTM-GWAS and meta‑QTL analyses, two stable and true major SNPLDBs (LDB_5_15144433 and LDB_16_37952328) that were distributed in the two MQTLs were identified. Ultimately, 142 genes in the two genomic regions were annotated, and three candidate genes associated with FFBN and HFFBN were identified in the genomic region (A05:14.64-15.64Mb) via RNA-Seq and qRT‒PCR. The results of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiments indicated that GhE6 was a key gene related to HFFBN and that GhDRM1 and GhGES were important genes associated with early flowering in upland cotton. These findings will aid in the future identification of molecular markers and genetic resources for developing elite early-maturing cultivars with ideal plant characteristics.

Genomic structure and marker-trait association for plant and fruit traits in Capsicum chinense and Capsicum baccatum germplasm

ObjectivesCapsicum baccatum and C. chinense are domesticated pepper species originating from Latin America recognized for their unique flavor and taste and widely diffused as spicy food for fresh uses or for processing. Owing to their capacity for adaptation to diverse habitats in tropical regions, these species serve as a valuable resource for agronomic traits and tolerance to both biotic and abiotic challenges in breeding projects. This study aims to dissect the genetic diversity of C. baccatum and C. chinense germplasm and to detect candidate genes underlying the variation of plant morphological and fruit size and shape traits. To that goal, SNP data from genotyping by sequencing have been used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of 103 accessions belonging to the two species. Further, plants have been assessed with main plant descriptors and fruit imaging analysis and association between markers and traits has been performed.ResultsThe population structure based on 29,820 SNPs revealed 4 subclusters separating C. chinense and C. baccatum individuals. A deeper analysis within each species highlighted three subpopulations in C. chinense and two in C. baccatum. Phenotypic characterization of 54 traits provided approximately 125 thousand datapoints highlighting main differences between species for flower and fruit traits rather than plant architecture. Marker-traits association, performed with the CMLM model, revealed a total of 6 robust SNPs responsible for change in flower traits and fruit shape. This is the first attempt for mapping morphological traits and fruit features in the two domesticated species, paving the way for further genomic assisted breeding.

Unveiling the genetic landscape: Exploring the SSR-based genetic architecture and amino acid dissection of Gossypium barbadense and G. darwinii genomes

Genetic maps highlight the genome organization and structure but also provide the chance of tagging superior traits for crop improvement through marker-assisted selection. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins and perform crucial function in regulating the signaling of molecules involved in the development and growth of plants. Plant architecture also have an impact on crop productivity. In order to select elite cultivars for breeding and identification of favorable alleles and their functional properties, a deep understanding of genetic architecture and development of genetic map is essential. In present investigation, an interspecific cross of Gossypium barbadense XH-18 × G. darwinii 5-7 was made to develop a genetic map utilizing single sequence repeat markers for the dissection of amino acids involved in genetic architecture of G. barbadense and G. darwinii. We measured chromosomal distribution of 20 amino acids across the whole genome of both species. The map consists of 613 markers spread across all 26 chromosomes, covering 2371.4 cM of cotton genome with an average inter-marker distance of 9.35 cM. The marker number anchored on the chromosomes varied from 5 to 76 with an average of 23.57 on each chromosome. The Dt sub-genome had more markers (83.03%) than the At sub-genome (15.66%). Moreover, the longest chromosome was 143.387 cM, the shortest was 58.430 cM, and the average length was 91.207 cM. The Dt subgenome spans a greater genomic distance than the At subgenome. A sum of 21,035 genes were discovered, covering the complete genome of G. barbadense; G. darwinii and have been found to be involved in tRNA 3'-trailer cleavage, macromolecule modification, peptide deformylase activity, response to biotic stimulus and defense response. The minimum Glutamic acid (Glu), Histidine (His), and Lysine (Lys) were found on Chr.13 (0.00-17.74), Chr.02 (0.00-8.01), and Chr.06 (0.00-17.97), respectively found through chromosomal amino acid dissection. The genome-wide SSR interspecific genetic map of G. barbadense and G. darwinii is first of its kind, and studying chromosomal distribution of amino acids will set a landmark step to dissect the genome structure of G. darwinii.

Altered interactions between cis-regulatory elements partially resolve BLADE-ON-PETIOLE genetic redundancy in Capsella rubella.

Duplicated genes are thought to follow one of three evolutionary trajectories that resolve their redundancy: neofunctionalization, subfunctionalization, or pseudogenization. Differences in expression patterns have been documented for many duplicated gene pairs and interpreted as evidence of subfunctionalization and a loss of redundancy. However, little is known about the functional impact of such differences and about their molecular basis. Here, we investigate the genetic and molecular basis for the partial loss of redundancy between the two BLADE-ON-PETIOLE genes BOP1 and BOP2 in red shepherd's purse (Capsella rubella) compared to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). While both genes remain almost fully redundant in A. thaliana, BOP1 in C. rubella can no longer ensure wild-type floral organ numbers and suppress bract formation, due to an altered expression pattern in the region of the cryptic bract primordium. We use two complementary approaches, transgenic rescue of A. thaliana atbop1 atbop2 double mutants and deletions in the endogenous AtBOP1 promoter, to demonstrate that several BOP1 promoter regions containing conserved noncoding sequences interact in a nonadditive manner to control BOP1 expression in the bract primordium and that changes in these interactions underlie the evolutionary divergence between C. rubella and A. thaliana BOP1 expression and activity. Similarly, altered interactions between cis-regulatory regions underlie the divergence in functional promoter architecture related to the control of floral organ abscission by BOP1. These findings highlight the complexity of promoter architecture in plants and suggest that changes in the interactions between cis-regulatory elements are key drivers for evolutionary divergence in gene expression and the loss of redundancy.

Marker-trait association analysis for easy fruit destemming and mechanical harvestability traits in New Mexican chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

IntroductionChile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) mechanization is a promising alternative to traditional hand harvesting due to the costs associated with manual harvest, as well as the increasing unavailability of skilled manual chile harvesters. This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with mechanical harvestability (MH) and yield-related traits using multi-locus genome-wide association mapping approaches in a C. annuum association mapping population.MethodsA C. annuum association mapping panel for mechanical harvest was manually direct seeded in an augmented block design in two locations. After filtration, imputation, and quality control 27,291 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used for association analyses. Six multi-locus GWAS models were implemented to identify marker trait association.Results and DiscussionMulti-locus GWAS models identified 12 major SNP markers (R2 > 10) across nine chromosomes associated with plant architecture, easy destemming traits, and yield parameters. The presence of a major QTL in chromosome P2, dstem2.1, identified recently to be associated with destemming force, was confirmed. Mature green and mature red yield shared three SNP markers mapped on chromosome P3, P5, and P6 explaining 11.94% to 25.15% of the phenotypic variation. Candidate gene analysis for the significant loci identified 19 candidate genes regulating different phytohormone biosynthesis/signaling, metabolic processes, transcription, methylation, DNA repair/replication, and RNA splicing, with potential roles in controlling plant architecture and morphology. The diverse positions of the associated SNPs suggest the complex nature of these quantitative traits, involvement of multiple genetic factors, and novel significant marker-trait associations. Results from this study will be relevant for genetic improvement of mechanical harvestability traits in New Mexican chile pepper using molecular markerassisted breeding and selection.

Identification of Dwarfing Candidate Genes in Brassica napus L. LSW2018 through BSA-Seq and Genetic Mapping.

Plant height, as a crucial component of plant architecture, exerts a significant influence on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) lodging resistance, photosynthetic efficiency, yield, and mechanized harvest level. A previous study identified dwarf rapeseed LSW2018. In this study, LSW2018 (dwarf parent (PD)) was crossed with 389 (high parent (PH)) to establish the F2 population, and 30 extremely dwarf (bulk-D) and high (bulk-H) plants in the F2 population were respectively selected to construct two bulked DNA pools. Whole-genome sequencing and variation analysis (BSA-seq) were performed on these four DNA pools (PD, PH, bulk-D, and bulk-H). The BSA-seq results revealed that the genomic region responsible for the dwarf trait spanned from 19.30 to 22.19 Mb on chromosome A03, with a length of 2.89 Mb. After fine mapping with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, the gene was narrowed to a 0.71 Mb interval. Within this region, a total of 113 genes were identified, 42 of which contained large-effect variants. According to reference genome annotation and qRT-PCR analysis, there are 17 differentially expressed genes in this region between high and dwarf individuals. This study preliminarily reveals the genetic basis of LSW2018 dwarfing and provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular marker-assisted breeding of dwarf rapeseed.

NADP-malic Enzyme OsNADP-ME2 Modulates Plant Height Involving in Gibberellin Signaling in Rice

Plants NADP-malic enzymes (NADP-MEs) act as a class of oxidative decarboxylase to mediate malic acid metabolism in organisms. Despite NADP-MEs have been demonstrated to play pivotal roles in regulating diverse biological processes, the role of NADP-MEs involving in plant growth and development remains rarely known. Here, we characterized the function of rice cytosolic OsNADP-ME2 in regulating plant height. The results showed that RNAi silencing and knock-out of OsNADP-ME2 in rice results in a dwarf plant structure, associating with significant expression inhibition of genes involving in phytohormone Gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and signaling transduction, but with up-regulation for the expression of GA signaling suppressor SLR1. The accumulation of major bioactive GA1, GA4 and GA7 are evidently altered in RNAi lines, and exogenous GA treatment compromises the dwarf phenotype of OsNADP-ME2 RNAi lines. RNAi silencing of OsNADP-ME2 also causes the reduction of NADP-ME activity associating with decreased production of pyruvate. Thus, our data revealed a novel function of plant NADP-MEs in modulation of rice plant height through regulating bioactive GAs accumulation and GA signaling, and provided a valuable gene resource for rice plant architecture improvement.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Gibberellin-Oxidases Family Members in Four Prunus Species and a Functional Analysis of PmGA2ox8 in Plant Height.

Gibberellins (GAs), enzymes that play a significant role in plant growth and development, and their levels in plants could be regulated by gibberellin-oxidases (GAoxs). As important fruit trees and ornamental plants, the study of the mechanism of plant architecture formation of the Prunus genus is crucial. Here, 85 GAox genes were identified from P. mume, P. armeniaca, P. salicina, and P. persica, and they were classified into six subgroups. Conserved motif and gene structure analysis showed that GAoxs were conserved in the four Prunus species. Collinearity analysis revealed two fragment replication events of PmGAoxs in the P. mume genome. Promoter cis-elements analysis revealed 24 PmGAoxs contained hormone-responsive elements and development regulatory elements. The expression profile indicated that PmGAoxs have tissue expression specificity, and GA levels during the dormancy stage of flower buds were controlled by certain PmGAoxs. After being treated with IAA or GA3, the transcription level of PmGA2ox8 in stems was significantly increased and showed a differential expression level between upright and weeping stems. GUS activity driven by PmGA2ox8 promoter was detected in roots, stems, leaves, and flower organs of Arabidopsis. PmGA2ox8 overexpression in Arabidopsis leads to dwarfing phenotype, increased number of rosette leaves but decreased leaf area, and delayed flowering. Our results showed that GAoxs were conserved in Prunus species, and PmGA2ox8 played an essential role in regulating plant height.

Utilizing auxin dwarf genes to optimize seed yield and lodging resistance in rapeseed

Direct-seeding rapeseed production at high plant density raises the risk of lodging. We investigated the use of dwarf genes to improve rapeseed plant architecture to balance yield and lodging. Three genotypes with different plant architectures (dwarf scaHS5, semi-dwarf +/scaHS5, and tall HS5) were evaluated under varying nitrogen rates (N1, N2, and N3: 120, 240, and 360 kg N/ha) and plant densities (D1, D2, and D3: 15, 45, and 75 plants m−2) from 2019 to 2022. The results showed that increasing N rate positively influenced yield while decreasing lodging resistance in all genotypes. Increasing plant density (D2–D3) enhanced lodging resistance and yield in scaHS5 and +/scaHS5, but reduced yield in HS5. Compared to the two parents, +/scaHS5 exhibited moderate expressions of IAA3, GH3.15, and SAUR30 in stems under N2D3, resulting in reduced plant height and increased compactness. Additionally, +/scaHS5 had a thicker silique layer than HS5 by 14.7 %, and it had a significant correlation between height/angle and yield. Increasing N rate led to increased lignin and pectin contents, while cellulose content decreased. Increasing plant density resulted in greater stem cellulose content and CSLA3/7 expression in scaHS5 and +/scaHS5, but decreased in HS5. Compared to HS5, +/scaHS5 exhibited higher expressions of ARAD1 and GAUT4, along with a 51.1 % increase in pectin content, leading to improved lodging resistance under N2D3. Consequently, +/scaHS5 showed a 46.4 % higher yield and 38.9 % lodging resistance than HS5 under N2D3, while scaHS5 demonstrated strong lodging resistance but lower yield potential. Overall, this study underscores the potential of utilizing auxin dwarf genes to optimize the trade-off between yield and lodging resistance in rapeseed and the possibility of maximizing yield potential by optimizing the plant architecture of +/scaHS5 through nitrogen reduction and dense planting

Comprehensive identification of genomic and environmental determinants of phenotypic plasticity in maize.

Maize phenotypes are plastic, determined by the complex interplay of genetics and environmental variables. Uncovering the genes responsible and understanding how their effects change across a large geographic region are challenging. In this study, we conducted systematic analysis to identify environmental indices that strongly influence 19 traits (including flowering time, plant architecture, and yield component traits) measured in the maize nested association mapping (NAM) population grown in 11 environments. Identified environmental indices based on day length, temperature, moisture, and combinations of these are biologically meaningful. Next, we leveraged a total of more than 20 million SNP and SV markers derived from recent de novo sequencing of the NAM founders for trait prediction and dissection. When combined with identified environmental indices, genomic prediction enables accurate performance predictions. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) detected genetic loci associated with the plastic response to the identified environmental indices for all examined traits. By systematically uncovering the major environmental and genomic factors underlying phenotypic plasticity in a wide variety of traits and depositing our results as a track on the MaizeGDB genome browser, we provide a community resource as well as a comprehensive analytical framework to facilitate continuing complex trait dissection and prediction in maize and other crops. Our findings also provide a conceptual framework for the genetic architecture of phenotypic plasticity by accommodating two alternative models, regulatory gene model and allelic sensitivity model, as special cases of a continuum.

Phenotypic variation in hypocotyl elongation among elite sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) lines.

Sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum), widely distributed in Central Arid Asia and prevalent in the sand dunes of northern China, presents a promising potential as a climate-resilient crop. The plasticity of hypocotyl growth is the key trait for sand rice to cope with wind erosion and sand burial, ensure seedling emergence, and determine plant architecture. In this study, we assessed the overall hypocotyl phenotype of six sand rice elite lines, which were collected from different regions of northern China, and selected by our group over past decade through common garden trials. Significant phenotypic variations were observed in thousand-seed weight (TSW), seedling emergence percentage, hypocotyl length and diameter, and seedling fresh weight among the lines. The elite line Aerxiang (AEX) exhibited excellent agronomic performance with superior and synchronous emergence, and high survival percentage, distinguishing itself as a prime candidate for further large-scale cultivation. Contrastingly, the lines from the arid regions showed markedly lower performance. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLSPM) was used to assess the impact of seed provenance climate factors, including annual mean temperature (AMT) and annual mean precipitation (AMP), on trait variability among lines. The findings indicate a significant correlation between climate factors and hypocotyl length, highlighting the intricate adaptation of sand rice to local climate. The comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms behind phenotypic variations offers valuable insights for sand rice de novo domestication and innovative germplasm resources, and lays the foundation for ecological restoration in sandy areas.

Pathway to Independence - an interview with Martina Cerise.

Martina Cerise is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of George Coupland at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany. She is interested in using different plant organisms to understand the floral transition, which helps define plant architecture, and leads to fruit and seed production. Martina is one of the 2024 fellows of the Pathway to Independence Programme. We caught up with Martina to find out more about her research interests, her passion for science outreach and her plans as an independent group leader.

Effect of row distance on plant architecture, weed suppression and yield of silage maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in a pesticide-free cultivation system in Southern Germany

Conventional farming prioritizes monocultures and synthetic chemicals to secure high yields. However, there are a growing number of initiatives worldwide to reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides. One option for pesticide-free weed management is the adjustment of sowing pattern (row distance, plant arrangement, sowing density). This study investigated the effects of an equal distance sowing versus a normal distance sowing (EDS and NDS1) at constant sowing density on plant morphology, growth and yield of silage maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as well as the weed occurrence. Therefore, a 3-year (2020–2022) pesticide-free, field experiment was conducted at the Heidfeldhof Research Station, University of Hohenheim, Germany. In silage maize, neither plant architecture nor biomass yield showed significant differences between EDS with 0.375 m and NDS with 0.75 m row distance. In contrast, soybean developed a bushier plant architecture with more branches and shorter petioles in EDS with 0.15 m compared to plants in NDS with 0.50 m row distance, demonstrating phenotypic plasticity. A higher number of pods per plant (EDS: 28.05; NDS: 22.73) and seed yield (EDS: 406.58 g m−2; NDS: 389.34 g m−2) indicated the potential for increased yields applying EDS. Crop competitiveness against weeds was higher in EDS than in NDS, especially early in the growing season. The results highlight the importance of EDS as a valuable tool for pesticide-free, non-organic cropping systems through positive effects on crop yield and efficient weed control.

GhSBI1, a CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON 2 homologue, modulates branch internode elongation in cotton.

Branch length is an important plant architecture trait in cotton (Gossypium) breeding. Development of cultivars with short branch has been proposed as a main object to enhance cotton yield potential, because they are suitable for high planting density. Here, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of a semi-dominant quantitative trait locus, Short Branch Internode 1(GhSBI1), which encodes a NAC transcription factor homologous to CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON 2 (CUC2) and is regulated by microRNA ghr-miR164. We demonstrate that a point mutation found in sbi1 mutants perturbs ghr-miR164-directed regulation of GhSBI1, resulting in an increased expression level of GhSBI1. The sbi1 mutant was sensitive to exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) treatments. Overexpression of GhSBI1 inhibited branch internode elongation and led to the decreased levels of bioactive GAs. In addition, gene knockout analysis showed that GhSBI1 is required for the maintenance of the boundaries of multiple tissues in cotton. Transcriptome analysis revealed that overexpression of GhSBI1 affects the expression of plant hormone signalling-, axillary meristems initiation-, and abiotic stress response-related genes. GhSBI1 interacted with GAIs, the DELLA repressors of GA signalling. GhSBI1 represses expression of GA signalling- and cell elongation-related genes by directly targeting their promoters. Our work thus provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms for branch length and paves the way for the development of elite cultivars with suitable plant architecture in cotton.

LATA1, a RING E3 ligase, modulates the tiller angle by affecting auxin asymmetric distribution and content in rice.

The tiller angle is an important agronomic trait that determines plant architecture and grain yield in rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, the molecular regulation mechanism of the rice tiller angle remains unclear. Here, we identified a rice tiller angle gene, LARGE TILLER ANGLE 1 (LATA1), using the MutMap approach. LATA1 encodes a C3H2C3-type RING zinc finger E3 ligase and the conserved region of the RING zinc finger is essential for its E3 activity. LATA1 was highly expressed in the root and tiller base and LATA1-GFP fusion protein was specifically localized to the nucleus. The mutation of LATA1 significantly reduced indole-3-acetic acid content and attenuated lateral auxin transport, thereby resulting in defective shoot gravitropism and spreading plant architecture in rice. Further investigations found that LATA1 may indirectly affect gravity perception by modulating the sedimentation rate of gravity-sensing amyloplasts upon gravistimulation. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the rice tiller angle and new genetic resource for the improvement of plant architecture in rice.