Suppressing an auxin efflux transporter enhances rice adaptation to temperate habitats

Yanchun Cui, Lifang Huang, Peng Liu, Xiaodong Wang, Bi Wu, Yongjun Tan, Xuan Huang, Xiaojie Hu, Zhankun He, Yuqi Xia, Zebang Li, Wenli Zhang, Wenbang Tang, Yongzhong Xing, Caiyan Chen and Donghai Mao ()
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Yanchun Cui: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lifang Huang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Peng Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaodong Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Bi Wu: Yazhou Bay National Laboratory
Yongjun Tan: Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center
Xuan Huang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaojie Hu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhankun He: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuqi Xia: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zebang Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wenli Zhang: Nanjing Agricultural University
Wenbang Tang: Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center
Yongzhong Xing: Yazhou Bay National Laboratory
Caiyan Chen: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Donghai Mao: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a chilling-sensitive staple crop originating from tropical and subtropical Asia, can be cultivated in temperate regions through the introduction of chilling tolerance traits. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this adaptation remain largely unknown. Herein, we show that HAN2, a quantitative trait locus, confers chilling tolerance in temperate japonica rice. HAN2 encodes an auxin efflux transporter (OsABCB5) and negatively regulates chilling tolerance, potentially via auxin-mediated signaling pathway. During rice domestication, HAN2 has undergone selective divergence between the indica and temperate japonica subspecies. In temperate japonica rice, the insertion of a Copia long terminal repeat retrotransposon downstream of HAN2 reduces its expression, thereby enhancing chilling tolerance and facilitating adaptation to temperate climates. Introgression of the temperate japonica HAN2 allele into indica rice significantly improves chilling tolerance at both seedling and booting stages. These findings advance our understanding of rice northward expansion and provide a valuable genetic resource for improving yield stability under chilling stress.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59449-z

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