The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>

Grain size and grain weight are critical factors influencing crop yield. In rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.), the auxin response factor (OsARF) family proteins, key components of the auxin signaling pathway, function as transcription factors and play essential roles in regulating various pl...

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Main Authors: Xinrong Zhang, Yimeng Xu, Fengjun Xian, Shuya Liu, Jishuai Huang, Bin Xie, Jun Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1808
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author Xinrong Zhang
Yimeng Xu
Fengjun Xian
Shuya Liu
Jishuai Huang
Bin Xie
Jun Hu
author_facet Xinrong Zhang
Yimeng Xu
Fengjun Xian
Shuya Liu
Jishuai Huang
Bin Xie
Jun Hu
author_sort Xinrong Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Grain size and grain weight are critical factors influencing crop yield. In rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.), the auxin response factor (OsARF) family proteins, key components of the auxin signaling pathway, function as transcription factors and play essential roles in regulating various plant growth and development processes, including seed development. Here, we identified that <i>Oryza sativa AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 25</i> (<i>OsARF25</i>) plays an essential role in regulating grain size and grain weight by activating the expression of <i>SHORT GRAIN 1</i> (<i>SG1</i>) and <i>Oryza sativa OVATE FAMILY PROTEIN 04</i> (<i>OsOFP04</i>). The <i>osarf25</i> mutants showed larger grains with increased grain length, grain width, and 1000-grain weight. Furthermore, molecular evidence demonstrated that OsARF25 functions as a transcriptional activator. RNA-seq analysis further identified its target genes <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>. In addition, OsARF25 directly binds to the promoters of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i> and activates their expression. Further, the <i>osarf25</i> mutant exhibited enhanced sensitivity to brassinolide treatment, confirming that the targeting of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i> by OsARF25 mediates BR signaling. Taken together, our study revealed that <i>OsARF25</i> functions as a regulator of grain length, grain width, and grain weight by participating in the BR signaling pathway, and it has potential value for molecular breeding in rice.
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spelling doaj-art-ead56ce2d0484b698d13b9b2c4d0495c2025-08-20T02:21:47ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011412180810.3390/plants14121808The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>Xinrong Zhang0Yimeng Xu1Fengjun Xian2Shuya Liu3Jishuai Huang4Bin Xie5Jun Hu6State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Engineering Research Center for Plant Biotechnology and Germplasm Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaGrain size and grain weight are critical factors influencing crop yield. In rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.), the auxin response factor (OsARF) family proteins, key components of the auxin signaling pathway, function as transcription factors and play essential roles in regulating various plant growth and development processes, including seed development. Here, we identified that <i>Oryza sativa AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 25</i> (<i>OsARF25</i>) plays an essential role in regulating grain size and grain weight by activating the expression of <i>SHORT GRAIN 1</i> (<i>SG1</i>) and <i>Oryza sativa OVATE FAMILY PROTEIN 04</i> (<i>OsOFP04</i>). The <i>osarf25</i> mutants showed larger grains with increased grain length, grain width, and 1000-grain weight. Furthermore, molecular evidence demonstrated that OsARF25 functions as a transcriptional activator. RNA-seq analysis further identified its target genes <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>. In addition, OsARF25 directly binds to the promoters of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i> and activates their expression. Further, the <i>osarf25</i> mutant exhibited enhanced sensitivity to brassinolide treatment, confirming that the targeting of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i> by OsARF25 mediates BR signaling. Taken together, our study revealed that <i>OsARF25</i> functions as a regulator of grain length, grain width, and grain weight by participating in the BR signaling pathway, and it has potential value for molecular breeding in rice.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1808OsARF25grain sizegrain weightBR signaling pathwayrice
spellingShingle Xinrong Zhang
Yimeng Xu
Fengjun Xian
Shuya Liu
Jishuai Huang
Bin Xie
Jun Hu
The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
Plants
OsARF25
grain size
grain weight
BR signaling pathway
rice
title The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
title_full The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
title_fullStr The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
title_full_unstemmed The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
title_short The Auxin Response Factor <i>OsARF25</i> Negatively Regulates Grain Size and Weight in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Activating the Expression of <i>SG1</i> and <i>OsOFP04</i>
title_sort auxin response factor i osarf25 i negatively regulates grain size and weight in rice i oryza sativa i l by activating the expression of i sg1 i and i osofp04 i
topic OsARF25
grain size
grain weight
BR signaling pathway
rice
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/12/1808
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