Chlorophyll Deficiency by an OsCHLI Mutation Reprograms Metabolism and Alters Growth Trade-Offs in Rice Seedlings

Byung Jun Jin, Inkyu Park, Sa-Eun Park, Yujin Jeon, Ah Hyeon Eum, Jun-Ho Song () and Kyu-Chan Shim ()
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Byung Jun Jin: Global Institute for Advanced Nanoscience & Technology, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea
Inkyu Park: Department of Biology and Chemistry, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea
Sa-Eun Park: Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Yujin Jeon: Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Ah Hyeon Eum: Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Jun-Ho Song: Department of Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
Kyu-Chan Shim: Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Chlorophyll biosynthesis is essential for photosynthesis and plant development. Disruptions in this pathway often manifest as pigment-deficient phenotypes. This study characterizes the morphological, anatomical, and physiological consequences of a chlorophyll-deficient rice mutant (yellow seedling, YS) caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the OsCHLI gene, which encodes the ATPase subunit of magnesium chelatase. Comparative analyses between YSs and wild-type green seedlings (GSs) revealed that YSs exhibited severe growth retardation, altered mesophyll structure, reduced xylem and bulliform cell areas, and higher stomatal and papillae density. These phenotypes were strongly light-dependent, indicating that OsCHLI plays a crucial role in light-mediated chloroplast development and growth. Transcriptome analysis further revealed global down-regulation of photosynthesis-, TCA cycle-, and cell wall-related genes, alongside selective up-regulation of redox-related pathways. These results suggest that chlorophyll deficiency induces systemic metabolic reprogramming, prioritizing stress responses over growth. This study highlights the multifaceted role of OsCHLI in plastid maturation, retrograde signaling, and developmental regulation, providing new insights for improving photosynthetic efficiency and stress resilience in rice.

Keywords: Oryza sativa L.; rice; albino; stomata complex; scanning electron microscope (SEM); epicuticular wax; OsCHLI; chlorophyll; pigment-deficient phenotypes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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