Accumulating evidence from recent studies has highlighted the critical regulatory functions of non-histone protein acetylation in rice biological processes. This review systematically synthesizes current advances in characterizing the functional attributes and regulatory mechanisms of non-histone acetylation in rice, with a specific focus on its roles in regulating gene expression, modulating metabolic enzyme activities, and mediating stress responses. Emerging studies demonstrate that non-histone acetylation dynamically modulates transcription factors, metabolic enzymes, and other pivotal functional proteins to orchestrate essential physiological processes, including growth and development, photosynthetic efficiency, and environmental stress adaptation. Using mass spectrometry, gene editing, and related technologies, researchers have identified multiple acetyltransferases and deacetylases that regulate protein stability, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. Despite these advances, challenges persist, such as the complexity of the acetylation regulatory networks and species-specific differences among cereal crops. Future investigations should integrate multi-omics approaches to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of this post-translational modification, thereby facilitating the development of targeted genetic engineering strategies for rice improvement.

Rice production is increasingly challenged by flooding stress because of global warming and rising sea levels. As the world’s most important staple crop, rice is highly vulnerable to anaerobic and submergence conditions that occur during flooding, particularly at the germination and vegetative stages. Anaerobic environments hinder seedling establishment during germination, while prolonged submergence during the vegetative stage impairs growth, ultimately reducing yield and grain quality. These stresses, driven by extended inundation, trigger a cascade of detrimental physiological responses and represent a major barrier to stable rice production and global food security. In this review, we examine the effects of flooding on rice growth at both the germination and vegetative stages. We further summarize recent advances in the identification of flooding-tolerant germplasm, QTL mapping, genome-wide association study, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, and other molecular studies. Subsequently, we highlight potential cultivation and regulatory strategies, including genetic, morphological, physiological, and endogenous hormone-related approaches, aimed at enhancing tolerance to anaerobic and submergence stress. Together, these approaches underscore the promise of integrating molecular insights with agronomic practices to mitigate flooding damage and support sustainable rice production.

Rice fields are one of the largest sources of methane (CH₄), a potent greenhouse gas contributing significantly to global warming. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms and mitigating CH₄ emissions from paddy fields is crucial for combating climate change while ensuring sustainable food production. This review investigates the biological processes governing CH₄ generation in rice fields, focusing on how soil microorganisms generate CH₄ under waterlogged, anaerobic conditions. It also explores the mechanisms by which CH₄ escapes into the atmosphere through plant-mediated transport, diffusion, and ebullition. Several factors influencing CH₄ emissions are discussed, including soil composition, water management, exogenous organic matter application, rice variety selection, and local climate conditions. Strategies that can be implemented to reduce CH₄ emissions are assessed, such as alternate wetting and drying, urea deep placement, biochar application, optimized fertilizer application, and breeding of rice varieties with low CH₄ emissions. Novel solutions, such as the enhancement of methane-consuming bacteria in soils using microbial-based approaches, are also explored. The importance of integrating innovative technologies, improved farming practices, and interdisciplinary research is emphasized to develop practical and scalable strategies for reducing CH₄ emissions. By addressing these challenges, we can advance towards the attainment of sustainable agriculture and global climate goals. This review aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand and mitigate CH₄ emissions from rice cultivation.

The Jumonji C domain-containing (JmjC) histone demethylases (JMJs) are involved in various aspects of plant development and responses to environmental changes. AtJMJs have been extensively studied in Arabidopsis for their roles in regulating flowering time, while their functions and molecular mechanisms in regulating flowering time in rice remain underexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the JmjC domain-only group member OsJMJ712 regulates heading date in rice. OsJMJ712 exhibits H3K36me3 demethylase activity at Ehd1 and RFT1 and represses the expression of Ehd1, Hd3a, and RFT1. Furthermore, loss of function of OsJMJ712 disrupts the circadian clock, and OsLHY directly binds to the promoter of OsJMJ712 to suppress its expression. These findings uncover that OsJMJ712 integrates histone demethylation and the circadian clock to fine-tune photoperiodic flowering in rice, providing new insights into the epigenetic control of photoperiodic flowering in crops.

TOPLESS/TOPLESS-RELATED (TPL/TPR) proteins are transcriptional corepressors that play pivotal roles in plant development, hormone signaling, and stress responses. Although TPL/TPR proteins have been identified in various organisms, their functions in rice disease resistance remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the three rice TPL/TPR proteins, designated OsTPR1, OsTPR2, and OsTPR3, examining their evolutionary relationships, expression patterns, and subcellular localization, and assessing their roles in disease resistance. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three OsTPRs belonged to distinct evolutionary clades. Expression analysis demonstrated tissue-specific patterns and responsiveness to jasmonate (JA), with all three genes being induced upon infection with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Consistent with their roles as transcriptional corepressors, all three OsTPRs localized to the nucleus. Disease resistance assays showed that, after inoculation with Xoo, lesion lengths on ostpr2 and ostpr3 mutants were significantly shorter than those on wild-type plants. Protein interaction assays demonstrated that OsTPR2 interacted with JA ZIM-domain protein (OsJAZ12), whose expression is also induced by Xoo. Furthermore, haplotype analysis of OsTPRs revealed natural variation, leading to the identification of superior allelic variants that confer improved resistance to bacterial blight without a yield penalty. Collectively, our findings provide a systematic characterization of TPL/TPR proteins in rice, highlight their potential roles in resistance to bacterial leaf blight, and identify valuable allelic resources for molecular breeding aimed at improving both disease resistance and yield.

Four modern hybrid and four japonica rice varieties differing in biomass, yield, and daily biomass production rate during the grain-filling period (DBP_GF), were used to reveal the eco-physiological photosynthetic characteristics of high-yield and high-efficiency rice. Varietal differences were analyzed in leaf and canopy photosynthetic parameters, associated leaf morphological and anatomical traits (e.g., stomatal density, vein density, mesophyll cell arrangement), as well as differences in canopy light interception and leaf area index, and their effects on yield and biomass accumulation. Hybrid rice with yield higher than 11.0 t/hm² and DBP_GF higher than 200 kg/(hm²·d), and japonica rice with yield higher than 9.0 t/hm² and DBP_GF higher than 200 kg/(hm²·d), were classified as high-yield and high-efficiency varieties; other varieties were considered general types. Based on this criterion, two hybrid (Yongyou 2640 and Shanyou 63) and two japonica varieties (Huaidao 5 and Nangeng 5718) were categorized as high-yield and high-efficiency types, while the remaining two hybrid (Liangyoupeijiu and C Liangyou 513) and two japonica varieties (Suxiu 867 and Yangnongdao 1) were classified as general types. Results indicated that high-yield and high-efficiency varieties generally have higher leaf and canopy photosynthesis, superior leaf stomatal, vascular, and mesophyll structures that facilitate CO₂ diffusion and hydraulic transport, higher canopy light transmittance, and slower leaf area attenuation. Rice yield and biomass were positively correlated with photosynthetic parameters and closely linked to associated photosynthetic traits. Efficient rice production was attributed to coordinated improvements in leaf structure, canopy architecture, and delayed leaf area attenuation. This study provides important theoretical guidance for breeding high-efficiency rice varieties.

Investigating the biological processes of iron (Fe) homeostasis is crucial for comprehending crop genetic improvement, which in turn helps address human malnutrition. This study utilized phenotyping, ionomics, and transcriptome analysis to uncover the regulatory mechanism of Fe homeostasis in rice under different Fe concentrations and during Fe supplementation. Our results showed both Fe deficiency and excess impede rice growth, with Fe excess exerting a more severe impact, particularly on the roots. The decrease in crown roots under excessive Fe conditions likely serves as an adaptive mechanism to counteract Fe toxicity. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4652 differentially expressed genes affected by Fe stress and supplementation. When Fe is supplemented to Fe-deficient rice, there are upregulations in the expression of genes related to Fe ion concentration and Fe homeostasis at 10 min and 2 h after supplementation, respectively, along with a brief downregulation at 30 min. This indicated a protective mechanism in the roots during Fe uptake. Notably, shoots with a lack of Fe accumulation did not show re-entry of Fe after supplementation, and there was a sustained downregulation of Fe-regulated genes. This suggests that the signaling from roots to shoots influences the response of shoots to Fe supplementation in rice. The molecular changes in Fe homeostasis discovered in this study can contribute to the improvement of rice.