水稻“作息表”被破解！科学家发现调控抽穗期的关键基因

Core Insights - The research team led by Academician Wan Jianmin from Nanjing Agricultural University has made significant progress in regulating the heading date of rice, with findings published in Nature Communications on June 19 [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The heading date of rice is a critical trait that determines the adaptability of varieties to different regions and seasons, impacting yield and quality [1] - The team cloned a gene named Early Flowering at Long Day 1 (ELD1), which specifically regulates rice heading under long-day conditions [1][3] - ELD1 encodes a CCHC-type zinc finger protein responsible for "assembling" and "repairing" genes, and its manipulation can lead to early heading without affecting other growth indicators [1][3] Group 2: Molecular Mechanism - ELD1 interacts with OsNKAP and several core mRNA splicing factors, regulating alternative splicing of thousands of genes, particularly the core clock gene OsCCA1 [3] - The study reveals a novel mechanism by which light signals regulate the heading date of rice through alternative splicing, involving the interaction of ELD1 with the active form of phyB [3] Group 3: Implications for Breeding - The research provides important genetic resources and theoretical support for addressing the late maturity issue in hybrid rice, particularly for indica-japonica hybrids [4] - The successful breeding of early heading new germplasm using base editing technology on ELD1 highlights a new paradigm for the application of essential genes in plant breeding [3][4]