TGW1a locus simultaneously shortens growth duration and boosts grain yield in rice

Science 2026

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Authors: Zhiyong Li, Guan Li, Zhichao Liu, Zhichao Liu, Zhen Cheng, Yibo Wu, Xinyong Liu, Xin Ai, Xin Ai, Guanghao Li, Guanghao Li, Guanghao Li
+11 more Yichen Cheng, Man Yin, Yichen Cheng, Yu Cheng, Yifeng Wang, Xiaohong Tong, Jie Huang, Guomin Zhang, Yuxuan Hou, Jiezheng Ying, Jian Zhang
DOI: 10.1126/science.ady1619
Cited by: 1
References: 55

Abstract

Reconciling the trade-off between short growth duration and high grain yield is essential for enhancing annual rice yields. We found that qTGW1a , encoding a flowering locus T-like protein, controls heading and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) underpinning grain weight and yield in rice. TGW1a interacts with and stabilizes Ghd7 and Hd1 to boost NUE and grain yield. Natural variations in the promoter enable the ancestral allele TGW1a JZ to maintain an intermediate level of TGW1a transcription. By decoupling its linkage to the weak grain number regulator Gn1a JZ , TGW1a JZ conferred 3.67 to 8.67 days shorter growth duration and 4.22 to 11.00% higher grain yield in five modern cultivars and derived F 1 hybrids. This research uncovers a locus for breeding rice varieties featuring shorter growth durations and higher yields.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals Plant Molecular Biology Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
393
Issue
6813
Pages
eady1619–eady1619
Publication date
20 August 2026
Language
EN