LAZY1 Controls Tiller Angle and Shoot Gravitropism by Regulating the Expression of Auxin Transporters and Signaling Factors in Rice

Abstract

Tiller angle is a key factor determining rice plant architecture, planting density, light interception, photosynthetic efficiency, disease resistance and grain yield. However, the mechanisms underlying tiller angle control are far from clear. In this study, we identified a mutant, termed bta1-1, with an enlarged tiller angle throughout its life cycle. A detailed analysis reveals that BTA1 has multiple functions because tiller angle, shoot gravitropism and tolerance to drought stress are changed in bta1-1 plants. Moreover, BTA1 is a positive regulator of shoot gravitropism in rice. Shoot responses to gravistimulation are disrupted in bta1-1 under both light and dark conditions. Gene cloning reveals that bta1-1 is a novel mutant allele of LA1 renamed la1-SN. LA1 is able to rescue the tiller angle and shoot gravitropism defects observed in la1-SN. The nuclear localization signal of LA1 is disrupted by la1-SN, causing changes in its subcellular localization. LA1 is required to regulate the expression of auxin transporters and signaling factors that control shoot gravitropism and tiller angle. High-throughput mRNA sequencing is performed to elucidate the molecular and cellular functions of LA1. The results show that LA1 may be involved in the nucleosome and chromatin assembly, and protein-DNA interactions to control gene expression, shoot gravitropism and tiller angle. Our results provide new insight into the mechanisms whereby LA1 controls shoot gravitropism and tiller angle in rice.

Keywords: Auxin transport and signal transduction; BTA1; LAZY1; Rice; Shoot gravitropism; Tiller angle.