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The wall-associated kinase GWN1 controls grain weight and grain number in rice

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Abstract

Grain size is a crucial agronomic trait that determines grain weight and final yield. Although several genes have been reported to regulate grain size in rice (Oryza sativa), the function of Wall-Associated Kinase family genes affecting grain size is still largely unknown. In this study, we identified GRAIN WEIGHT AND NUMBER 1 (GWN1) using map-based cloning. GWN1 encodes the OsWAK74 protein kinase, which is conserved in plants. GWN1 negatively regulates grain length and weight by regulating cell proliferation in spikelet hulls. We also found that GWN1 negatively influenced grain number by influencing secondary branch numbers and finally increased plant grain yield. The GWN1 gene was highly expressed in inflorescences and its encoded protein is located at the cell membrane and cell wall. Moreover, we identified three haplotypes of GWN1 in the germplasm. GWN1hap1 showing longer grain, has not been widely utilized in modern rice varieties. In summary, GWN1 played a very important role in regulating grain length, weight and number, thereby exhibiting application potential in molecular breeding for longer grain and higher yield.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32272123 and 32072036), the AgroST Project (NK2022050103), the Special Plan for Key Laboratory of ‘Western Light Western cross team’ (xbzg-zdsys-202111) and the open project of GKLRGB-SKLAB union laboratory, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2018-15-Z06-KF10).

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  1. Zhiqi Ma and **li Miao have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bei**g Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Bei**g, China

    Zhiqi Ma, **li Miao, Jian** Yu, **ngming Sun, **jie Li, Hongliang Zhang, Zichao Li & Zhanying Zhang

  2. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rice Genetics and Breeding, Rice Research Institute of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China

    Yinghua Pan & Danting Li

  3. CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, The **shuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan, China

    Peng Xu

  4. Sanya Institute of Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China

    Zichao Li

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  1. Zhiqi Ma
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  2. **li Miao
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  3. Jian** Yu
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  7. **ngming Sun
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  8. **jie Li
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  9. Hongliang Zhang
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  10. Zichao Li
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  11. Zhanying Zhang
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Contributions

Zhiqi Ma: Conceptualization, Investigation, Formal analysis, Software, Writing-original draft-review & editing. **li Miao: Formal analysis, Investigation. Jian** Yu: Data curation. Yinghua Pan: Funding acquisition. Danting Li: Resources. Peng Xu: Funding acquisition. **ngming Sun: Methodology. **jie Li: Supervision. Hongliang Zhang: Methodology. Zichao Li: Conceptualization, Supervision, Project administration. Zhanying Zhang: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing-review & editing.

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Correspondence to Zichao Li or Zhanying Zhang.

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Ma, Z., Miao, J., Yu, J. et al. The wall-associated kinase GWN1 controls grain weight and grain number in rice. Theor Appl Genet 137, 150 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04658-1

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