Disruption of MIR396e and MIR396f improves rice yield under nitrogen-deficient conditions.

ABSTRACT: The microRNA miR396 directly represses GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs (OsGRFs) and has been implicated in regulating rice yield and in nitrogen assimilation. Overexpressing the miR396 targets OsGRF4 and OsGRF6 improves rice yield via increased grain size and panicle branching, respectively. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to assess the function of miR396 genes in rice. Knockout of MIR396ef (MIR396e and MIR396f), but not other isoforms, enhanced both grain size and panicle branching, resulting in increased grain yield. Importantly, under nitrogen-deficient conditions, mir396ef mutants showed an even higher relative increase in grain yield as well as elevated above-ground biomass. Furthermore, we identified OsGRF8 as a new target of miR396,

SUBMITTER: Zhang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8288854 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature