PubMed · 2026-06-19
Researchers identified a single gene in foxtail millet — SiSD1 — that simultaneously governs plant height and nitrogen use efficiency. Plants carrying one functional and one non-functional copy of this gene produce more stems, stay at an ideal height, and absorb nitrogen better, yielding significantly more grain than either pure parent line.
A single gene, SiSD1, controls both plant architecture (height and tillering via gibberellin hormones) and nitrogen metabolism simultaneously — a rare two-for-one in crop genetics.
Hybrid millet plants heterozygous for SiSD1/sisd1 outperform both parent lines in yield, a phenomenon confirmed across elite commercial hybrids including the high-yield Zhangzagu series.
A single amino acid change (D157E) in SiSD1 compared to wild foxtail millet ancestors reduces gibberellin production and was positively selected during crop domestication, linking ancient farmer selection to modern breeding targets.
