The MYB61–STRONG2 module regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance in rice

doi:10.1111/jipb.13830

J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2025, Vol. 67 ›› Issue (2): 243-257.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13830 cstr: 32098.14.jipb.13830

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The MYB61–STRONG2 module regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance in rice

Yong Zhao^1,2,3†, Xianpeng Wang^1†, Jie Gao^1,3,4†, Muhammad Abdul Rehman Rashid¹, Hui Wu¹, Qianfeng Hu¹, Xingming Sun¹, Jinjie Li¹, Hongliang Zhang¹, Peng Xu⁵, Qian Qian⁴, Chao Chen⁶, Zichao Li^1,3,7* and Zhanying Zhang^1,3*

1. Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
2. Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China
3. Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Sanya 572025, China
4. Yazhouwan National Laboratory, Sanya 572024, China
5. CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun 666303, China
6. State Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Life Science and Technology Center, China National Seed Group Co., Ltd, Wuhan 430073, China
7. Sanya Institute, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, China

†These authors contributed equally to this article.
*Correspondences: Zichao Li (lizichao@cau.edu.cn); Zhanying Zhang (zhangzhanying@cau.edu.cn, Dr. Zhang is fully responsible for the distribution of all materials associated with this article).

Received:2024-09-13 Accepted:2024-12-09 Online:2025-01-06 Published:2025-02-01
Supported by:
This work was funded by the Biological Breeding‐National Science and Technology Major Project (2023ZD0406803), the AgroST Project (NK2022050103), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272123 and 32072036), the Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (324QN358), the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (2024TC189), the Postdoctoral Research Projects in Hainan Province (343812), the Hainan Seed Industry Laboratory and the China National Seed Group (B23YQ1517 and B23CQ15HP), the Special Plan for Key Laboratory of “Western Light Western cross team” (xbzg‐zdsys‐202111), and the 2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University.

Abstract

Abstract: Lodging reduces grain yield and quality in cereal crops. Lodging resistance is affected by the strength of the culm, which is influenced by the culm diameter, culm wall thickness, and cell wall composition. To explore the genetic architecture of culm diameter in rice (Oryza sativa), we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS). We identified STRONG CULM 2 (STRONG2), which encodes the mannan synthase CSLA5, and showed that plants that overexpressed this gene had increased culm diameter and improved lodging resistance. STRONG2 appears to increase the levels of cell wall components, such as mannose and cellulose, thereby enhancing sclerenchyma development in stems. SNP14931253 in the STRONG2 promoter contributes to variation in STRONG2 expression in natural germplasms and the transcription factor MYB61 directly activates STRONG2 expression. Furthermore, STRONG2 overexpressing plants produced significantly more grains per panicle and heavier grains than the wild-type plants. These results demonstrate that the MYB61–STRONG2 module positively regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance, information that could guide breeding efforts for improved yield in rice.

Key words: cellulose, CSLA5, lodging resistance, mannose, MYB61, STRONG2

Yong Zhao, Xianpeng Wang, Jie Gao, Muhammad Abdul Rehman Rashid, Hui Wu, Qianfeng Hu, Xingming Sun, Jinjie Li, Hongliang Zhang, Peng Xu, Qian Qian, Chao Chen, Zichao Li, Zhanying Zhang. The MYB61–STRONG2 module regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance in rice[J]. J Integr Plant Biol., 2025, 67(2): 243-257.

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The MYB61–STRONG2 module regulates culm diameter and lodging resistance in rice

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