PubMed · 2026-05-23
Researchers discovered that a specific protein segment in rice does more than move phosphorus around — it actively calms the plant's stress alarm system, helping rice grow better even when phosphorus is scarce. This opens a new path for breeding crops that use fertilizer more efficiently.
The SPX-containing EXS domain fragment of OsPHO1;2 improved early seedling growth independently of phosphate transport, even though shoot phosphate levels remained low
S-EXS rice lines showed reduced jasmonic acid accumulation and attenuated phosphate starvation gene responses, mirroring wild-type hormone profiles despite lacking full transporter function
Both partial-domain lines (S-EXS and T-EXS) retained seed development defects and reduced seed phosphorus content, indicating the full protein is required for reproductive function
