Core Viewpoint - The research identifies the key gene EBT1 responsible for the perennial growth habit of wild rice, revealing the genetic basis for the transition from perennial to annual growth in cultivated rice [3][10]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study successfully cloned the EBT1 gene, which is crucial for the perennial growth habit of wild rice, and demonstrated that changes in its expression pattern were key to the transition during rice domestication [3][10]. - The research utilized 446 samples of perennial wild rice to study traits associated with perennial growth habits, highlighting the structural characteristics of herbaceous plants, such as extensive tillering and vegetative reproduction, which are absent in modern cultivated rice [6][7]. - The team identified a gene locus containing tandem microRNA156 genes (MIR156BC) and analyzed how dynamic changes in miR156 abundance promote the perennial growth habit of wild rice [7][8]. Group 2: Mechanisms and Implications - The study found that unlike modern annual rice varieties, the MIR156BC in wild rice can reset its expression during the development of tillers after flowering, linked to increased chromatin accessibility and reduced repressive epigenetic marks [8][10]. - By combining the EBT1 gene with known creeping growth genes PROG1 and TIG1, the researchers successfully enabled annual cultivated rice to largely replicate the perennial growth habit of wild rice, demonstrating survival for at least two years in field conditions [8][10]. - This research provides new insights into the genetic basis of perennial traits in cereal crops and paves the way for the development of sustainable perennial rice varieties [10].