Strigolactones (SLs) are a new class of carotenoid-derived phytohormones essential for developmental processes shaping plant architecture and interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Despite the rapid progress in elucidating the SL biosynthetic pathway, the perception and signaling mechanisms of SL remain poorly understood. Here we show that DWARF53 (D53) acts as a repressor of SL signaling and SLs induce its degradation. We found that the rice d53 mutant, which produces an exaggerated number of tillers compared to wild type plants, is caused by a gain-of-function mutation and is insensitive to exogenous SL treatment. The D53 gene product shares predicted features with the class I Clp ATPase proteins and can form a complex with the α/β hydrolase protein DWARF14 (D14) and the F-box protein DWARF3 (D3), two previously identified signaling components potentially responsible for SL perception. We demonstrate that, in a D14- and D3-dependent manner, SLs induce D53 degradation by the proteasome and abrogate its activity in promoting axillary bud outgrowth. Our combined genetic and biochemical data reveal that D53 acts as a repressor of the SL signaling pathway, whose hormone-induced degradation represents a key molecular link between SL perception and responses.

nature biotechnology advance online publication l e t t e r sThe brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive pest of rice (Oryza sativa) and a substantial threat to rice production, causing losses of billions of dollars annually 1,2 . Breeding of resistant cultivars is currently hampered by the rapid breakdown of BPH resistance 2 . Thus, there is an urgent need to identify more effective BPH-resistance genes. Here, we report molecular cloning and characterization of Bph3, a locus in rice identified more than 30 years ago that confers resistance to BPH. We show that Bph3 is a cluster of three genes encoding plasma membrane-localized lectin receptor kinases (OsLecRK1-OsLecRK3). Introgression of Bph3 into susceptible rice varieties by transgenic or marker-assisted selection strategies significantly enhanced resistance to both the BPH and the white back planthopper. Our results suggest that these lectin receptor kinase genes function together to confer broad-spectrum and durable insect resistance and provide a resource for molecular breeding of insect-resistant rice cultivars.BPH (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, Hemiptera, Delphacidae) is a monophagous, phloem-sucking herbivore. It sucks the sap from the rice phloem using its stylet, and causes direct damage to rice plants. BPH can also cause indirect damage to rice plants through the transmission of viruses including the rice ragged stunt virus and grassy stunt virus 2 . Repeated overapplication of pesticides for BPH management has heavily polluted the environment 3 . Breeding of resistant cultivars is the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible strategy for BPH management but developing insect resistant cultivars by traditional breeding approaches is extremely difficult and time consuming owing to a paucity of knowledge about BPH resistance genes and germplasm.To date, 28 BPH resistance loci have been identified from cultivated and wild species of Oryza 2,4,5 . Only two of these resistance genes, Bph14 and Bph26 have been cloned to date 6,7 . In addition, BPH resistance of IR26 and IR36, two widely cultivated rice varieties that harbor the BPH resistance loci Bph1 and bph2, respectively, was quickly broken down in just a few years owing to the rapid adaptation of the BPH 8 . Thus, there is still an urgent need to identify new types of resistance genes and germplasm for developing efficient approaches to breed broad-spectrum and durable BPH-resistant rice cultivars. Notably, the Bph3 locus, originally identified in the Sri Lankan indica cultivar Rathu Heenati 9 , displayed resistance to four BPH biotypes (BPH biotypes refer to specific populations of BPH classified according to their virulence on different BPH resistance genes) 2,10 . Furthermore, rice varieties harboring Bph3 deployed more than 30 years ago in the Philippines are still resistant to BPH 8 . However, the molecular basis of this broad-spectrum and durable resistance of Bph3 against BPH remains unknown.We observed that Bph3-containing Rathu Heenati infested with BPH of mixed biotypes (biotype ...

Grain size is a major determinant of grain yield in cereal crops. qSW5/GW5, which exerts the greatest effect on rice grain width and weight, was fine-mapped to a 2,263-bp/21-kb genomic region containing a 1,212-bp deletion, respectively. Here, we show that a gene encoding a calmodulin binding protein, located ∼5 kb downstream of the 1,212-bp deletion, corresponds to qSW5/GW5. GW5 is expressed in various rice organs, with highest expression level detected in young panicles. We provide evidence that the 1,212-bp deletion affects grain width most likely through influencing the expression levels of GW5. GW5 protein is localized to the plasma membrane and can physically interact with and repress the kinase activity of rice GSK2 (glycogen synthase kinase 2), a homologue of Arabidopsis BIN2 (BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE2) kinase, resulting in accumulation of unphosphorylated OsBZR1 (Oryza sativa BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1) and DLT (DWARF AND LOW-TILLERING) proteins in the nucleus to mediate brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive gene expression and growth responses (including grain width and weight). Our results suggest that GW5 is a novel positive regulator of BR signalling and a viable target for genetic manipulation to improve grain yield in rice and perhaps in other cereal crops as well.

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These authors contributed equally to this work. SUMMARYStarch is the most widespread form of energy storage in the plant kingdom. Although many enzymes and related factors have been identified for starch biosynthesis, unknown players remain to be identified, given that it is a complicated and sophisticated process. The endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa) has been used for the study of starch synthesis. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the FLOURY ENDO-SPERM6 (FLO6) gene in rice. In the flo6 mutant, the starch content is decreased and the normal physicochemical features of starch are changed. Significantly, flo6 mutant endosperm cells show obvious defects in compound granule formation. Map-based cloning showed that FLO6 encodes a protein of unknown function. It harbors an N-terminal transit peptide that ensures its correct localization and functions in the plastid, and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding module 48 (CBM48) domain that binds to starch. Furthermore, FLO6 can interact with isoamylase1 (ISA1) both in vitro and in vivo, whereas ISA1 does not bind to starch directly. We thus propose that FLO6 may act as a starch-binding protein involved in starch synthesis and compound granule formation through a direct interaction with ISA1 in developing rice seeds. Our data provide a novel insight into the role of proteins with the CBM48 domain in plant species.