ABNORMAL FLOWER AND GRAIN 1 encodes OsMADS6 and determines palea identity and affects rice grain yield and quality

The palea and lemma are floral organ structures unique to grasses;these structures form the hull and directly affect grain size and quality. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the development of the hull are not well understood. In this study, we characterized the rice(Oryza sativa) abnormal flower and grain1(afg1) mutant, a new allele of OsMADS6. Similar to previously characterized osmads6 alleles, in the afg1 floret, the palea lost its marginal region and acquired the lemma identity. However, in contrast to other osmads6 alleles, the afg1 mutant showed altered grain size and grain quality, with decreased total starch and amylose contents, and increased protein and soluble sugar contents. The analysis of transcriptional activity suggested that AFG1 is a transcriptional activator and may affect grain size by regulating the expression levels of several genes related to cell expansion and proliferation in the afg1 mutant. These results revealed that AFG1 plays an important role in determining palea identity and affecting grain yield and quality in rice.

The C2H2 zinc-finger protein LACKING RUDIMENTARY GLUME 1 regulates spikelet development in rice

Rice(Oryza sativa)spikelets are a unique inflorescence structure and their development directly determines grain size and yield.Although many genes related to spikelet development have been reported,the molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated.In this study,we identified a new recessive rice mutant,lacking rudimentary glume 1(lrg1).The lrg1 spikelets only formed one rudimentary glume,which,along with the sterile lemmas,was homeotically transformed into lemma-like organs and acquired lemma identity.The transition from the spikelet to the floral meristem was delayed in the lrg1 mutant,resulting in the formation of an ectopic lemma-like organ between the sterile lemma and the terminal floret.In addition,we found that the abnormal lrg1 grain phenotype resulted from the alteration of cell numbers and the hull size.LRG1 encodes a ZOS4-06-C2H2 zinc-finger protein with the typical EAR motifs,and is expressed in all organs and tissues.LRG1 localizes to the nucleus and can interact with the TOPLESS-RELATED PROTEINs(TPRs)to repress the expressions of their downstream target genes.Taken together,our results reveal that LRG1 plays an important role in the regulation of spikelet organ identity and grain size.

LRG1 maintains sterile lemma identity by regulating OsMADS6 expression in rice

Dear Editor,Spikelet is the unique structural unit of grass panicles with florets and diverse glume-like organs.In rice,a normal spikelet usually has two pairs of glume-like organs,including a pair of sterile lemmas and a pair of rudimentary glumes.Generally,the sterile lemma is considered to be the severely degenerated bract,but its origin is still controversial.