MYB61 is regulated by GRF4 and promotes nitrogen utilization and biomass production in rice

Yihong Gao, Zuopeng Xu, Lanjun Zhang, Shance Li, Shaogan Wang, Hanlei Yang, Xiangling Liu, Dali Zeng, Qiaoquan Liu, Qian Qian, Baocai Zhang () and Yihua Zhou ()
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Yihong Gao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zuopeng Xu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lanjun Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shance Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Shaogan Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hanlei Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiangling Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dali Zeng: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Qiaoquan Liu: Yangzhou University
Qian Qian: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Baocai Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yihua Zhou: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient that boosts carbon (C) metabolism and plant growth leading to biomass accumulation. The molecular connection between nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) and biomass production remains unclear. Here, via quantitative trait loci analysis and map-based cloning, we reveal that natural variation at the MYB61 locus leads to differences in N use and cellulose biogenesis between indica and japonica subspecies of rice. MYB61, a transcriptional factor that regulates cellulose synthesis, is directly regulated by a known NUE regulator GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR4 (GRF4), which coordinates cellulosic biomass production and N utilization. The variation at MYB61 has been selected during indica and japonica domestication. The indica allele of MYB61 displays robust transcription resulting in higher NUE and increased grain yield at reduced N supply than that of japonica. Our study hence unravels how C metabolism is linked to N uptake and may provide an opportunity to reduce N use for sustainable agriculture.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19019-x

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