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The OsNTL3-WRKY53-CatA module confers thermotolerance in rice.

Gao X, An S, Ma Z, Chen M, Xie W

Summary

PubMed

Researchers identified a genetic variant in rice that enhances heat tolerance by controlling how the plant manages hydrogen peroxide—a harmful molecule produced under heat stress. This discovery could help rice crops adapt to warmer climates and maintain yields as global temperatures rise.

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Key Findings

1

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP-1456) in the WRKY53 promoter is the key genetic determinant of rice thermotolerance

2

The OsNTL3 transcription factor binds to and represses WRKY53, which then allows catalase A (CatA) to reduce hydrogen peroxide accumulation

3

The thermotolerant allele improves both heat tolerance and grain yield, with implications for rice cultivation in warming regions

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Original Abstract

High temperature is a major environmental constraint that severely limits rice (Oryza sativa) growth, yield potential, and geographical adaptability. The molecular mechanisms underlying rice adaptation to warm climates remain poorly understood. By integrating population genomic data with multi-scale phenotyping, we show that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP-1456) in the promoter of the defense transcription factor WRKY53 determines rice thermotolerance and grain yield. The thermotolerant allele strengthens the binding of the membrane-tethered NAC factor OsNTL3, which represses WRKY53 expression. Low WRKY53 derepresses catalase A (CatA), thereby lowering hydrogen peroxide (H

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This connects to 9 other discoveries — 1 species, 3 topics, 5 related articles

Species Mentioned

Rice
eco Rice

Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa —or, much less commonly, Oryza glaberrima. Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 y...

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