Control of rhizome axillary bud development by gibberellin

June 6, 2025

Elucidating the mechanism of rhizome growth regulation by plant hormones in wild rice

A collaborative research group from Tohoku University, Nagoya University, the RIKEN CSRS, and Chubu University has elucidated how the plant hormone "gibberellin (GA)" spatiotemporally regulates rhizome development in wild rice (Oryza longistaminata). This mechanism was uncovered through comparative analysis with cultivated rice (O. sativa), which primarily reproduces through seed production.

The research group discovered that, during axillary bud development process, the perennial wild rice specifically accumulates GA4, one of the active gibberellins. The timing and local concentration of GA4 were found to affect the angle and morphology of the axillary buds. Furthermore, they elucidated part of the underlying mechanism by which GA4 promotes the expression of gene sets that suppress differentiation into flowers. This allows the rhizomes to maintain continue vegetative growth without transitioning to the flowering phase.

Rhizome formation is a trait that can be applied to forage crops and bioethanol production. They can also serve as a foundation for breeding crops that are highly harvestable and sustainable in response to climate change. This study is an important step toward understanding the evolutionary basis and agricultural applications, such as the development of perennial crops and crops resistant to environmental stress.

 

Original article

Rice　DOI: 10.1186/s12284-025-00798-0

K. Bessho-Uehara, T. Omori, S. Reuscher, K. Nagai, A. Agata, M. Kojima, Y. Takebayashi, T. Suzuki, H. Sakakibara, M. Ashikari, T. Hobo,

"Spatio-temporal regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis contributes to optimal rhizome bud development".

Contact

Hitoshi Sakakibara; Senior Visiting Scientist
Mikiko Kojima; Technical Scientist
Mass Spectrometry and Microscopy Unit