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28 January 2026, Volume 33 Issue 1 Previous Issue   
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Letters

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Mechanism of Pleiotropic Gene OsSP3 Regulating Root Development in Rice Ye Jing, Liang Chuyan, Zhai Rongrong, Wu Mingming, Zhang Xiaoming, Ye Shenghai 2026, 33(1): 1-4.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.011 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (741KB) ( )

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Optimizing Anther Culture for Doubled Haploid Breeding of Rice Using Yongyou 1540 Gan Yan, Xiao Kailing, Lin Jialing, Hong Yifei, Li Chuyi, Yu Hang, Zhang Long, Cui Shiyong, Sun Yanbo, Li Jinying, Chen Mingjiao, Chu Huangwei, Lin Wenxiong, Yang Xuelian, Wang Wenfei 2026, 33(1): 5-8.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.08.011 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (963KB) ( )

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Proteomic Analysis Revealing Protein Expression in Rice Grain Containing Differential Protein and Amino Acid Contents Krishnendu Chattopadhyay, Arabinda Mahanty, Nutan Moharana, Shuvendu Shekhar Mohapatra, Torit Baran Bagchi, Koushik Chakraborty, Joydeep Banerjee, Bimal Prasanna Mohanty, Trilochan Mohapatra 2026, 33(1): 9-14.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.11.001 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1097KB) ( )

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QTL-Seq Identifies Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Bipolaris oryzae and Their Association with Defense Related Enzyme Activity in Rice Jagjeet Singh Lore, Sanjay Kumar, Dharminder Bhatia, Mandeep Singh Hunjan, Rishabh Maheshwari, Dayananda Veeriah Patil, Jyoti Jain 2026, 33(1): 15-20.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.08.012 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1144KB) ( )

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Warm Nights, Waxy Leaves: Exploring Interplay Between Epicuticular Wax and Nocturnal Transpiration Nagaraju Spoorthi, Nedaravalli Manjappa Kavyashree, Vedamurthy Sushma, Preethi Vijayaraghavareddy, Sheshshayee Sreeman 2026, 33(1): 21-24.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.08.002 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (484KB) ( )

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Influences of Milling Degree on Zinc Bioavailability in Rice Grains Varied in Zinc and Phytic Acid Levels Huo Shaojie, Lin Jiaqi, Sun Yuxuan, Wu Dianxing, Shu Xiaoli, Wang Yin 2026, 33(1): 25-29.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.007 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (926KB) ( )

Reviews

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WRKY53: A Key Player in Stress Responses and Growth Regulation in Rice An Shuaizu, Lü Jun, Ma Zemin, Gao Xuanlin, Zhang Biaoming, Yang Pingfang, Ke Yinggen 2026, 33(1): 30-38.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.08.008 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (531KB) ( )   As sessile organisms, plants must adapt various stresses. Accordingly, they have evolved several plant-specific growth and developmental processes. WRKY53 is a member of the WRKY transcription factor family, which plays a crucial role in rice growth and development, stress response, and hormone signal transduction. This review discusses the role of WRKY53 in stress response, focusing on its functions in cold tolerance, salt tolerance, disease resistance, and pest defense, and explores its role in regulating rice leaf senescence and seed germination. This article also proposes future research directions, including functional genomics studies, protein interaction network analyses, hormone signal transduction pathways, genetic improvement strategies, applications of gene editing technologies, molecular basis of stress responses, cross- species functional conservation, and bioinformatics and comparative genomics research. This review highlights the importance of WRKY53 in rice biology and provides new perspectives and strategies for future research and genetic improvement of rice.

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NRAMPs: Versatile Transporters Involved in Metal Ion Homeostasis and Their Applications in Rice Breeding Huang Qina, Wu Lijuan, Jiang Hongrui, He Yan, Liu Song, Yang Changdeng, Liang Yan 2026, 33(1): 39-58.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.010 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2972KB) ( )   The NRAMP (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein) family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport, regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants. In rice (Oryza sativa), OsNRAMP transporters critically influence metal homeostasis, stress adaptation, and grain safety. Among them, OsNRAMP5 serves as a major entry point for cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) uptake, making it a prime target for low-Cd rice breeding. However, knockout of OsNRAMP5 leads to severe Mn deficiency, highlighting the need for precise genetic modifications (e.g., OsNRAMP5-Q337K), which reduce Cd accumulation while maintaining Mn nutrition. Additionally, OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP2 contribute to Cd translocation and plant immunity, whereas OsNRAMP3/4/6/7 participate in Mn, iron, and zinc distribution and stress responses. This review systematically summarizes the structural, functional, and regulatory mechanisms of OsNRAMPs, emphasizing their roles in metal transport, pathogen resistance, and abiotic stress adaptation. Furthermore, we discuss strategies for developing low-Cd rice varieties, including QTL-based breeding, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, and multi-gene stacking approaches. Finally, we outline future research directions, such as structural engineering of metal-binding sites and field validation of engineered rice lines, to ensure sustainable rice production in heavy metal-contaminated soils.

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Rice Bran as Nutrient-Dense Food in Gut Health and Beyond Pratap Kalita, Bedanta Bhattacharjee, Bhrigu Kumar Das, Saikat Sen, Raja Chakraborty, Abdul Baquee Ahmed 2026, 33(1): 59-80.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.005 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2578KB) ( )   Rice bran is the outer layer of the rice grain and a by-product of milling rice kernels, possessing high nutritional and therapeutic value. It is abundant in dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and various antioxidant molecules. The health-promoting effects of rice bran and its biomolecules have been documented in several studies. In this review, we evaluated the different nutritive and health-promoting effects of rice bran, particularly its impact on gut health and other chronic conditions associated with gut health. The biomolecules present in rice bran and their potential therapeutic effects were also summarized. This paper recapitulated the potential therapeutic and preventive efficacy of rice bran against various ailments, along with their mechanisms of action. Rice bran is an important source of nutritive substances. In addition to their nutritive value, rice bran is rich in diverse biomolecules such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolics, γ-oryzanol, phytosterols and derivatives, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The dietary fibers in rice bran play a key role in modulating gut microbiota, reducing inflammation, and maintaining gut health. Rice bran and its components have been found to exhibit therapeutic benefits against inflammation, diabetes, cancer, liver disorders, cardiac issues, and neurological disorders through various mechanisms. Different clinical investigations have also confirmed the potential beneficial effects of rice bran and rice bran oil in various metabolic and cardiac disease conditions. Modulating gut microbiota is an important mechanism of the beneficial effects exerted by rice bran. This comprehensive review underscores the nutritional and therapeutic value of rice bran, emphasizing its potential for wider adoption to address nutrient deficiencies and improve human health.

Research Papers

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Suppressors of Cytokinin Receptor Mutant pal1/ohk4 Confer Favorable Alleles of Grain Number 1a (Gn1a) for Improving Grain Yield in japonica Rice Jia Huichao, Chun Yan, Ashmit Kumar, Mo Tianyu, Wang Haifeng, Guo Shengyuan, Fang Jingjing, Zhao Jinfeng, Sun Wei, Zhang Shiyong, Yuan Shoujiang, Li Xueyong 2026, 33(1): 81-98.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.008 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2822KB) ( )   Panicle number per plant, grain number per panicle, and grain weight are three key factors influencing rice grain yield. Gn1a, a major QTL for grain number per panicle, encodes the cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX) OsCKX2. While the use of elite Gn1a alleles has been well documented in indica rice cultivars, their potential in japonica rice remains largely unexplored. In this study, we characterized three suppressor mutants of the rice cytokinin receptor mutant pal1/ohk4 and found that all causal genes were novel alleles of Gn1a identified through the MutMap approach. These three suppressor mutants caused single amino acid substitutions in the FAD-binding domain (G556D and G156D) and the cytokinin-binding domain (Y357C), resulting in significantly reduced enzymatic activity of OsCKX2 and elevated cytokinin levels in the panicle. Haplotype analysis of Gn1a using a natural population from the 3K Rice Genomes Project showed that G556D, G156D, and Y357C were novel alleles of Gn1a. G556, G156, and Y357 were highly conserved, whereas four natural variants G54A, A105V, H116R, and N535K identified in different haplotypes of Gn1a showed extremely low conservation. By backcrossing the suppressor mutants with their original wild-type Huaidao 5, an elite japonica rice variety, we developed improved lines carrying only the gn1a mutation. The improved lines showed a significant increase in grain number per panicle, grain weight, panicle number per plant, plant height, and stem thickness, leading to a 25.7%-28.7% increase in grain yield per plot compared with Huaidao 5. This study provides valuable Gn1a alleles ‌for synergistic improvement of the three key yield factors and offers germplasm resources for high-yielding breeding in japonica rice.

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High Throughput 3D Phenotyping of Canopy Occupation Volume as Major Predictor of Rice Canopy Photosynthesis Zhou Jiaren, Song Qingfeng, Li Wanwan, Zhang Mengqi, Zhang Man, Zhu Xinguang, Wang Minjuan 2026, 33(1): 99-112.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.002 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2173KB) ( )   Canopy photosynthesis, rather than leaf photosynthesis, is highly related to plant biomass and yield formation. Studying canopy photosynthesis and identifying the parameters that control it can help optimize agricultural management and achieve crop yield potential. Compared with traditional parameters, canopy occupation volume (COV) offers an integrative parameter on canopy architecture related to canopy photosynthetic rates. In this study, we developed a high-throughput method to derive COV for different rice varieties. We first used multi-perspective two-dimensional imaging to reconstruct three-dimensional point clouds of rice plants and developed a suite of pipelines to calculate plant height, leaf number, tiller number, and biomass, with R2 values of 91.8%, 95.9%, 82.3%, and 94.3%, respectively. We further employed point cloud data to reconstruct the surfaces of rice plants and construct a virtual canopy model of the rice population. Light distribution was simulated using a ray-tracing algorithm and canopy photosynthetic rates were simulated via photosynthetic rate-incident light intensity curve fitting. Furthermore, we systematically explored the relationships between canopy phenotypes and photosynthetic rates, and found that COV was the most effective predictor of canopy photosynthesis, achieving an R2 value of 92.1%. Adjustment in atmospheric transmittance showed that COV strongly correlated with canopy photosynthesis under different light conditions, with higher accuracy observed under diffuse light. Variations in planting density confirmed that this correlation remained strong at the community level. In summary, this study demonstrates that COV is closely linked to simulated canopy photosynthesis and the developed pipeline can support future agronomic and breeding research.

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Enlarged Sink Capacity and Optimized Population Physiological Characteristics are Key to High Yield in Conventional Japonica Rice Zhang Haipeng, Mi Kailiang, Chen Ting, Zhang Muyan, Xu Fangfu, Zhang Hongcheng 2026, 33(1): 113-128.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.10.004 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1159KB) ( )   Clarifying the photosynthetic and population characteristics of conventional japonica rice at different yield levels is crucial for boosting yield and ensuring food security. Therefore, a two-year field trial with two conventional japonica varieties was conducted at four planting densities: 16 cm × 30 cm (D1), 14 cm × 30 cm (D2), 12 cm × 30 cm (D3), and 10 cm × 30 cm (D4). This study aimed to investigate how photosynthetic and population characteristics influence grain yield under varying planting densities. The results indicated that higher yields were primarily driven by increased grain weight and seed-setting rate (with a 9.68%‒11.40% higher single panicle weight), supported by optimized dry matter translocation and source-sink relationships. Elevated planting density (D2‒D4) enhanced panicle number and total spikelet number (by 3.91%‒15.00%) but reduced the number of spikelets per panicle, 1000-grain weight, and photosynthetic efficiency due to mutual shading. Despite these trade-offs, yield increased by 4.10%‒12.42% under higher densities. The use of planting density D4 in japonica rice cultivation contributed to maximize yield. These findings provide important theoretical insights and practical significance for increasing the yield of conventional japonica rice and ensuring food security.

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Wood Vinegar Enhances Seedling Rate of Rice Seeds under Flooding Stress by Mitigating Oxidative Damage and Maintaining Energy Homeostasis Zhu Junlin, Zheng Guangjie, Tao Yi, Liao Wenli, Ye Chang, Xu Ya’nan, Xiao Deshun, Chu Guang, Xu Chunmei, Wang Danying 2026, 33(1): 129-140.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.08.006 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1455KB) ( )   Flooding stress is a majo adverse condition during the emergence period of direct-seeded rice. This study investigated the use of wood vinegar as a seed soaking treatment to enhance rice seedling rates under flooding stress, exploring both the methodology and physiological mechanisms involved. The optimal seed soaking concentration was determined through a gradient experiment, followed by a multi-cultivar validation test. The physiological mechanism of wood vinegar soaking on seedling emergence was analyzed by measuring the electrical conductivity of the flooding water, the changes in starch and soluble sugar contents in the grains and sprouts, and the dynamics of α-amylase activity and antioxidant-related enzyme activities in the sprouts. The results showed that soaking rice seeds in a wood vinegar solution at a low concentration significantly enhanced the emergence of rice seedlings under flooding conditions, with a 100-fold dilution having the most pronounced effect, increasing seedling rates by 50.6%-60.0%. Further analysis indicated that wood vinegar treatment enhanced seedling establishment by inducing a significant increase in α-amylase activity, leading to a 74.9%-213.6% increase in soluble sugar content in the sprouts during 2-8 d after flooding stress compared with the control. Additionally, the treatment increased superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities in the sprouts, mitigating lipid peroxidation of the cell membranes, and notably lower water electrical conductivity was observed in wood vinegar-treated seeds compared with the control. In conclusion, soaking rice seeds in a 100-fold diluted wood vinegar solution improves rice seedling rates under flooding stress by mitigating oxidative damage and maintaining energy supply. This approach is valuable for developing cost-effective seed treatment technologies and offering novel strategies to improve seedling rates and uniformity of direct-seeded rice under flooding conditions.