Discovery of a factor promoting initial growth of rice seedlings

January 6, 2021

Elucidation of the role of SWEET3a that transports glucose and the plant hormone gibberellin for initial seedling growth in rice

A research group of Nagoya University and RIKEN CSRS revealed for the first time that SWEET3a, a member of the SWEET sugar transporter family, transports the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) as well as glucose and promotes initial seedling growth in rice.

Promotion of initial growth of rice seedlings is one of the important issues involved in the technology called “direct seeding” where seeds are directly sown on field for labor saving.

The present study is expected to be a key for the breeding of rice cultivars suitable for direct seeding.

Original article
Plant and Cell Physiology doi:10.1093/pcp/pcaa130
M. Morii, A. Sugihara, S. Takehara, Y. Kanno, K. Kawai, T. Hobo, M. Hattori, H. Yoshimura, M. Seo, M. Ueguchi-Tanaka,
The dual function of OsSWEET3a as a gibberellin and glucose transporter is important for young shoot development in rice".
Contact
Mitsunori Seo
Unit Leader
Dormancy and Adaptation Research Unit