Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 1-13.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2024-1218

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Advances in Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Panicle Development in Rice

LIU Yuan-yuan1(), CHEN Xi-feng1, QIAN Qian2,3, GAO Zhen-yu2()   

  1. 1.College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004
    2.State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006
    3.Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572024
  • Received:2024-12-17 Online:2025-05-26 Published:2025-06-05
  • Contact: GAO Zhen-yu E-mail:1538389544@163.com;gaozhenyu@caas.cn

Abstract:

Rice is one of staple food in the world, supplying more than half of the world’s population. Effective panicle number, grain number per panicle and 1 000-grain weight are three factors controlling rice yield. The development of rice panicle is an important procedure for number of grains per panicle, which is closely related to rice yield. Therefore, the research on rice panicle development and its underlying molecular mechanism provides foundation and theoretical basis for high-yield breeding in rice. The genetic mechanism and molecular regulation of rice panicle development have been concerned by breeders. On the basis of the research progress on genes associated with rice panicle development and their regulation mechanism by domestic and international specialists, including the newly isolated genes involved in rice panicle development in recent years, we discuss the process of meristem activity maintenance, identity transition from inflorescence meristem to spikelet meristem, flower organ formation and genetic regulation in rice. We also introduce the molecular mechanism of these genes regulating panicle development and the potential interactions. Meanwhile, we also summarize how these genes related to panicle development participate in plant hormone signaling pathways such as cytokinin, auxin, gibberellin and brassinolide. We further discuss the essential role of environmental factors, such as temperature, light, water and nutrients, in the development of rice panicle. Based on description of molecular mechanisms and genetic regulatory networks of rice panicle development, we systematically analyze the urgent issues in the study of rice panicle development and the corresponding solutions, and prospects about the key issues and avenues in this area in the future.

Key words: rice, panicle development, phytohormone, environmental factors, molecular mechanism