Ghd7自然变异是调控水稻抽穗期和产量潜力的重要因素

产量潜力、株高和抽穗期是决定农作物产量的3类主要性状。我们从优良杂交水稻中分离出一个数量性状位点（QTL）Ghd7。Ghd7编码一个含CCT结构域蛋白,它对水稻的一系列性状包括单穗粒数、株高和抽穗期都产生重要影响。在长日照条件下,增强Ghd7的表达可延迟抽穗期、增加株高和穗大小。但另一方面,Ghd7功能减弱的自然变异可使水稻能在温和及较冷地区种植。上述结果表明,Ghd7在水稻产量和适应性方面具有至关重要的作用。

Natural Variation in Ghd7 is an Important Regulator of Heading Date and Yield Potential in Rice

Yield potential, plant height and heading date are three classes of traits that determine the productivity of many crop plants. Here we showed that the quantitative trait locus （QTL） Ghd7, isolated from an elite rice hybrid and encoding a CCT domain protein, had major effects on an array of traits in rice, including number of grains per panicle, plant height and heading date. Enhanced expression of Ghd7 under long-day conditions delays heading and increases plant height and panicle size. Natural mutants with reduced function enable rice to be cultivated in temperate and cooler regions. Thus, Ghd7 has played crucial roles for increasing productivity and adaptability of rice globally.