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28 July 2026, Volume 33 Issue 4 Previous Issue   
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Letters

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MDBP: An Integrated Web-Based Platform for Accelerating Mutagenesis-Directed Breeding Peng Yan, Mao Bigang, Tang Wenbang, Zhao Bingran, Shao Ye 2026, 33(4): 411-414.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.006 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (747KB) ( )

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Developing Green-Leaf Black Rice Germplasm by Knockout of OsC1 Gene Li Fuhao, Ge Liyun, Wang Peina, Sun Wenyu, Gong Nuo, Han Yingchun, Miao Chunbo, Chen Zhen, Du Yanxiu, Sun Hongzheng, Li Junzhou 2026, 33(4): 415-419.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.004 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (765KB) ( )

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Optimization and Establishment of Soil Health Evaluation Framework in Black Soil Region Based on Multifunctionality: A Case Study of Fangzheng County, Heilongjiang Province, China He Zhuoting, Jiang Yu, Ali Raza, Ma Qingxu, Li Xiao, Kong Haimin, Kong Yali, Zhu Lianfeng, Zhu Chunquan, Tian Wenhao, Wu Lianghuan, Zhang Junhua, Jin Qianyu, Ma Chao, Cao Xiaochuang 2026, 33(4): 420-424.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.008 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (877KB) ( )

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Integrated Lipidomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Lipid-Mediated Regulatory Networks Underlying Male Sterility in Rice Han Cong, Miao Rong, Sun Yang, Jiang Shenlong, Zhang Peng, Hu Guocheng, Yan Qing, Muneeba Saleem, Hu Songping, Zhong Zhengzheng, Tong Hanhua 2026, 33(4): 425-430.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.05.007 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1521KB) ( )

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Trimethylsilyl Phenylacetate, a Metabolite from Stenotrophomonas geniculata WXY53, Inhibits Magnaporthe oryzae and Promotes Rice Growth Wu Xiyang, Yu Tian, Guo Min, Zhang Deyong, Chen Yue 2026, 33(4): 431-434.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.006 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (958KB) ( )

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Induction Effect of Chelerythrine on Apoptosis of Sf9 Cells: A Preliminary Investigation Based on Cell Morphology and Activity Wei Qinghui, Shi Zhenghao, Li Zhiyong, Pan Yaqing, Song Weifeng, Liu Chunlai 2026, 33(4): 435-437.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.012 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (738KB) ( )

Reviews

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Microbial Insecticides for Rice Insect Pest Management Zhang Xinxin, Chen Guoqing, Feng Guozhong 2026, 33(4): 438-448.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.003 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (641KB) ( )   Microbial pesticides are being increasingly adopted in modern agriculture as sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides, featuring outstanding target specificity and low environmental risk. Their application plays a vital role in rice production, enabling effective suppression of key rice insect pests including stem borers, leaf folders, and planthoppers, while preserving ecological balance. The research, development, and popularization of microbial insecticides facilitate green agricultural development, with numerous commercial formulations successfully launched worldwide. This review summarizes the research progress of microbial insecticides categorized as bacterial, fungal, viral, and metabolite-based agents, focusing on their practical application in rice insect pest control. Furthermore, it discusses prominent technical and practical bottlenecks restricting their large-scale promotion and prospects future development directions consistent with sustainable plant protection strategies.

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Recent Advances in Synthesis Regulation, Quality Effect, and Genetic Improvement Strategies of Rice Grain Lipids Li Guohui, Hu Qiuqian, Huo Zhongyang, Dai Qigen, Wang Depeng, Xu Ke 2026, 33(4): 449-464.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.02.007 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1069KB) ( )   Rice grain lipids, though constituting a minor fraction of brown rice weight, exert a pivotal influence on grain quality, encompassing eating and cooking quality, nutritional value, and storage stability. Lipids are unevenly distributed within the caryopsis, predominantly localized in the embryo and aleurone layers, and consist of neutral triacylglycerols and polar glycerolipids with a characteristic fatty acid profile rich in oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids. The application of advanced lipidomics and imaging techniques, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging, and nuclear magnetic resonance, has enabled detailed profiling and spatial visualization of lipid species, revealing their interactions with starch and proteins. Molecular studies have identified key genes (e.g., OsFAD2, OsLOX, OsPLDα1, OsWRI1), enzymes, and QTLs that govern lipid content, composition, and stability. Grain lipids determine eating quality by forming amylose-lipid complexes that influence texture, digestibility, and aroma, while their oxidative degradation, mediated by lipases and lipoxygenases, is a primary cause of quality deterioration during storage. Genetic strategies, including breeding for high-oleic acid, lipoxygenase-null, or high-lysophospholipid genotypes via genetic engineering, and biotechnological interventions are emerging as powerful tools to tailor lipid profiles for enhanced palatability, extended shelf life, and improved nutritional outcomes. Consequently, integrating lipid-centric approaches with traditional starch- and protein-focused breeding paradigms is essential for the holistic improvement of rice quality in the future.

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Breeding Rice to Recruit Diazotrophs: Plant Genetic Levers for Rhizosphere Nitrogen Fixation Chu Qingnan, Li Detian, Feng Zhihang, Wang Mengcen, Sha Zhimin 2026, 33(4): 465-484.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.005 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2086KB) ( )   Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers sustain modern rice yields but cause substantial environmental impacts due to low nitrogen-use efficiency. Flooded paddy soils harbor diverse diazotrophs capable of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), yet BNF is highly variable across soils, management practices, and rice genotypes. In this review, we synthesize recent evidence on how rice can be bred to more consistently recruit and stimulate N2-fixing microbiomes. We first summarize major diazotroph taxa and niches in paddy ecosystems, highlighting the emerging contribution of iron-reducing bacteria at root iron-plaque interfaces and the principal environmental ‘gates’ on BNF, including flooding regime, bioavailable iron (Fe) phases, pH, carbon (C) quality, and mineral-N inputs. We then integrate findings showing that rice genetic variation shapes diazotroph assembly and activity through four root-controlled levers: (i) root system architecture that positions rhizodeposition along redox gradients, (ii) exudate quantity and chemistry (notably flavonoids and low-molecular-weight organic acids) that fuel and signal to diazotrophs, (iii) aerenchyma-mediated radial O2 loss that creates oxic-anoxic microsites, and (iv) iron plaque formation that couples Fe-C-N cycling and provides a scaffold for N2-fixing communities. Finally, we translate these mechanisms into a breeding roadmap, proposing a BNF-supportive ideotype, candidate loci/genes from genome-wide association study (GWAS)/QTL and wild introgressions, and a validation-to-deployment pipeline combining gene editing, near-isogenic resources, marker-assisted/genomic selection, and multi-environment field testing under low-N management. We also discuss phenotyping bottlenecks, deployment constraints, and priorities for pairing BNF-supportive alleles with compatible microbiomes and agronomy practices to reduce fertilizer demand while maintaining yield.

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Molecular Mechanism in Regulation of Rice Tiller Development Li Haifeng, Qin Hua 2026, 33(4): 485-498.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.01.006 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (713KB) ( )   Rice tillers are specialized grain-bearing branches originating from axillary buds generated at the basal internodes. Tiller number and tiller angle are two key components of rice architecture and important agronomic traits that determine plant density and panicle number, and are therefore tightly associated with grain yield. It is an important topic to elucidate the underlying mechanism in regulation of tiller development. Classical genes, such as MONOCULM 1 (MOC1), IDEAL PLANT ARCHITECTURE1 (IPA1), PROSTRATE GROWTH1 (PROG1), and LAZY1, have been reported to regulate tiller number or tiller angle. In addition to the genetic basis, environmental factors, such as fertilizer application and gravity, and endogenous phytohormones, such as auxin and strigolactones, also affect tiller development. With the emergence and development of gene editing technology, together with genome-wide association studies and other new technologies, much progress has recently been gained including the cloning of NITROGEN-MEDIATED TILLER GROWTH RESPONSE 5 (NGR5), TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1/CYCLOIDEA/ PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR 19 (OsTCP19), and LAZY2 to LAZY6; and the identification of regulatory roles of strigolactones and root microbiota in modulating tiller number. Especially, functional characterization of NGR5 and OsTCP19 revealed the mechanism of nitrogen-mediated regulation of tiller number. These advances not only shed light on the mechanism modulating tillering development, but also provide gene resources for crop improvement. This review summarizes in-depth the mechanisms and factors regulating rice tiller development, with a focus on classical genes and major advances, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms modulating tiller number and angle in rice.

Research Papers

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Three-Line Hybrid Rice in China: Fifty Years of Sustained Improvement in Yield, Quality, and Stress Resistance Gong Junyi, Zhang Xiaobo, Zhang Jianfu, Zeng Bo, Zhang Xiaoqing, Xu Xia, Cheng Benyi, Hou Yuxuan, Xia Junhui, Wu Jianli, Yang Shihua, Cheng Shihua, Han Bin, Xie Huaan 2026, 33(4): 499-513.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.004 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1060KB) ( )   China pioneered the global commercial application of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.). Chinese scientists not only proved that heterosis can be realized in self-pollinating crops, a groundbreaking theoretical advance, but also developed commercial hybrid rice breeding into one of China’s most sophisticated agricultural technology models, making outstanding contributions to national food security. This study systematically reviews the 50-year developmental trajectory of officially approved three-line hybrid rice varieties at national and provincial levels in China, through analyzing the approval statistics of individual restorer lines and male sterile lines, the dynamic changes in the popularized planting area of major varieties, and the phenotypic variation in core agronomic traits including grain yield, grain quality, and disease/pest resistance. The paper comprehensively summarizes the remarkable progress, major achievements and practical experience accumulated over half a century of three-line hybrid rice breeding in China, and prospects future research directions for this system.

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Pyruvate Orthophosphate Dikinase B (PPDKB) Deficiency Impairs Starch Biosynthesis and Redirects Carbon Flux to Lipid and Amino Acid Synthesis in Rice Deng Bowen, Ying Yining, Pan Jianming, Zhang Tongrui, Xu Feifei, Bao Jinsong 2026, 33(4): 514-530.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.04.010 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (3057KB) ( )   The central endosperm of a chalky rice mutant JM03, which was isolated from a 60Co-irradiated mutant population of the indica rice variety 93-11, contains numerous small, irregularly shaped starch granules with looser packing than those of the wild type (WT). JM03 starch showed lower gelatinization onset and peak temperatures, reduced pasting viscosities, and consistently decreased dynamic rheological parameters compared with WT. Through bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq), complementation tests, and immunoblot analysis, we identified PPDKB (Os05g0405000) as the causal gene underlying the JM03 phenotype. Multi-omics analysis of developing endosperm at 15 d after flowering revealed that PPDKB deficiency profoundly redirected central carbon and amino acid metabolism. On the one hand, impaired phosphoenolpyruvate regeneration disrupted the gluconeogenic conversion of hexoses into starch biosynthesis precursors, consequently suppressing starch accumulation through downregulation of all starch synthesis-related genes and enzymes. The impaired starch synthesis diminished sucrose unloading capacity due to reduced expression of sucrose synthase, triggering accumulation of sucrose and other soluble sugars. On the other hand, excess pyruvate diverted metabolic flux towards acetyl-CoA production, stimulating tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and enhancing lipid biosynthesis. Meanwhile, amino acid synthesis was enhanced due to increased levels of multiple precursors and genes/enzymes involved in this process. The reduction in starch accumulation, combined with the downregulation of key grain weight regulators, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 and BAHD acyltransferase-like protein, collectively led to a significant reduction in grain weight in JM03. Taken together, our study reveals a functional cross-talk between starch, soluble sugars, protein, and lipids in rice endosperm during seed development in JM03, which provides important germplasm resources and a theoretical basis for genetic improvement of rice yield and quality.

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Chloroplast-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species Dynamics Mediate Jasmonic Acid-Induced Drought Tolerance in Rice Jiwoong Jung, Deok Hyun Seo, Youngdae Yoon, Geupil Jang 2026, 33(4): 531-544.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.005 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2645KB) ( )   Beyond their central role in photosynthesis and plant productivity, chloroplasts are emerging as key regulators of plant responses and tolerance to abiotic stress. However, the molecular mechanisms linking chloroplastic reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism to stress adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we show that knockout of OsJAZ9, a repressor of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, enhances JA response and drought tolerance in rice by suppressing cellular ROS accumulation. Time-lapse visualization of subcellular ROS dynamics revealed that stress-induced ROS accumulation was initiated in chloroplasts and subsequently propagated to the cytoplasm. Notably, loss of OsJAZ9 markedly suppressed chloroplastic ROS accumulation, resulting in reduced cellular ROS levels under stress conditions. Consistently, either JA treatment or overexpression of the JA-responsive chloroplastic ROS scavenger OsFeSOD3 was sufficient to attenuate chloroplastic ROS accumulation and enhance drought tolerance in rice. Furthermore, two-year agronomic field analyses showed that osjaz9 knockout rice exhibited improved grain yield, particularly under drought stress conditions. Together, our findings identify chloroplast-derived ROS dynamics as a pivotal molecular link between JA signaling and rice stress tolerance and highlight OsJAZ9 as a promising molecular target for developing high-yielding, stress-tolerant rice cultivars.

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MoWhi2 Participates in Mitophagy and Pathogenesis by Modulating MoAti1 Protein Level in Magnaporthe Oryzae Zhang Ying, Shi Huanbin, Meng Shuai, Wen Hui, Chen Ya, Liu Li, Kou Yanjun 2026, 33(4): 545-558.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.009 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (2846KB) ( )   Rice blast caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most devastating diseases affecting rice production. It was previously demonstrated that MoWHI2 is indispensable for mitophagy and full virulence in M. oryzae, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its control of mitophagy remained unresolved. In this study, we found that MoWhi2 interacts with MoAti1, a SUN family protein that mediates mitophagy by recruiting the autophagy-associated protein MoAtg8. Phenotypic analysis showed that the defects of the ΔMowhi2/ΔMoati1 mutant in growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity were comparable to those of ΔMoati1, but more severe than those of ΔMowhi2. Furthermore, compared with the wild type, the ΔMowhi2/ΔMoati1 mutant exhibited a lower mitophagy level similar to that of the single deletion mutants ΔMowhi2 or ΔMoati1. In addition, deletion of MoWHI2 resulted in a decreased protein level of MoAti1, suggesting that MoWhi2 might regulate mitophagy by modulating the protein levels of MoAti1. Due to the absence of MoWhi2 orthologues in both rice and humans, we employed host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) targeting MoWHI2 in rice plants; the resultant transgenic rice lines displayed resistance to blast without agronomic penalties. Collectively, our data established that MoWhi2 regulates mitophagy and pathogenicity of M. oryzae by interacting with MoAti1, and can serve as a target for rice blast control strategies.

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Stability of Vitamins and Minerals in Coated and Extruded Fortified Rice Kernels Stored under Real-Life Conditions over Two Years and Implications for Standards Werner Nader, Deblina Sarkar, Melas Adoko, Saskia de Pee, Elise Ivarsen, Vitalii Shkliar, Sabine Meng Jensen, Johannes Hein 2026, 33(4): 559-570.  DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2026.03.007 Abstract ( )   HTML ( )   PDF (1442KB) ( )   Rice fortification is a cost-effective intervention to address and prevent micronutrient deficiencies in contexts where rice is a staple food. The stability of such added micronutrients is of critical importance, especially when rice is stored under harsh storage conditions. Coated and extruded fortified rice kernels (FRKs) containing vitamins A, B1, B3, B6, B9, and B12, zinc, and iron, as well as bulk rice fortified with these kernels, were stored in different packaging materials over periods of 24 and 26 months, respectively. Blending, final packaging, and storage were conducted in Madhya Pradesh, in central India, which experiences a subtropical monsoon climate condition. Large variations in the analytical results were observed for the fortified rice samples, mostly due to non-homogeneous distribution of the FRKs within the bulk rice. Consequently, to reduce analytical variation, results were correlated with the concentration of vitamin B3 as an internal standard. Vitamins B3, B6, B9, and B12, zinc, and iron remained stable in both coated and extruded FRKs throughout storage, while vitamin B1 stability was higher in coated FRKs, with results consistent across packaging materials. The decay of vitamin B1 followed zero-order kinetics in extruded premix kernels stored in metallized paper bags and in rice fortified with these kernels across all packaging types, with half-lives of 20 and 34 months, respectively. Vitamin A decay followed first-order kinetics in both rice fortified with coated and extruded kernels, with half-lives of 6.8 and 15.1 months, respectively. In FRKs, vitamin A decay was best described by mixed-order kinetics, with half-lives of 6.5 months (coated) and 5.5 months (extruded). This study informed major revisions to the World Food Programme fortified rice specifications, including the removal of vitamin A due to its instability during storage, while confirming the stability of B vitamins, zinc, and iron, and highlighting the critical role of blending and analytical control practices.