The phytochrome-interacting factor PIL13 enhances water use efficiency under fluctuating light and drought resilience in rice and soybean.

ABSTRACT: In natural environments, fluctuating light (FL) conditions significantly influence plant growth by modulating the balance between photosynthesis and water loss through stomata, quantified as the intrinsic water use efficiency under fluctuating light (iWUEFL). This effect is particularly pronounced under drought stress (FL-DS). To elucidate the genetic basis of stomatal responses to FL-DS, we analyzed iWUEFL variations across 206 rice accessions and identified OsPIL13, a phytochrome-interacting factor, as a key gene associated with iWUEFL through genome-wide association studies. Functional validation revealed that overexpressing OsPIL13 in rice (WYG7) and its homolog in soybean (DN50) enhanced iWUEFL by 13% and 15%, respectively, under FL-DS, demonstrating its conserved role across species.

SUBMITTER: Luo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12381223 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature