<i>TGW1a</i> locus simultaneously shortens growth duration and boosts grain yield in rice.

Li, Zhiyong; Li, Guan; Liu, Zhichao; Cheng, Zhen; Wu, Yibo; Liu, Xixi; Liu, Xinyong; Ai, Xin et al. · Science · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Reconciling the trade-off between short growth duration and high grain yield is essential for enhancing annual rice yields. We found that <i>qTGW1a</i>, encoding a flowering locus T-like protein, controls heading and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) underpinning grain weight and yield in rice. TGW1a interacts with and stabilizes Ghd7 and Hd1 to boost NUE and grain yield. Natural variations in the promoter enable the ancestral allele <i>TGW1a<sup>JZ</sup></i> to maintain an intermediate level of <i>TGW1a</i> transcription. By decoupling its linkage to the weak grain number regulator <i>Gn1a<sup>JZ</sup></i>, <i>TGW1a<sup>JZ</sup></i> conferred 3.67 to 8.67 days shorter growth duration and 4.22 to 11.00% higher grain yield in five modern cultivars and derived F<sub>1</sub> hybrids. This research uncovers a locus for breeding rice varieties featuring shorter growth durations and higher yields.

Medical subject headings