Biotech Updates

Scientists Clone Rare Gene to Enhance Rice Grain Yield

September 23, 2015

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Chinese Academy of Sciences reported that an important gene GS2 was successfully isolated and cloned from a local Chinese rice variety Baodali from Zhejiang province. The gene GS2 could significantly enhance the yield of super rice. Their findings are published in the latest issue of Molecular Plant journal.

The research article discusses the cloning and characterization of dominant quantitative trait loci (QTL) that codes for a transcriptional regulator Growth-Regulating Factor 4 (OsGRF4). GS2 is located in the nucleus and may serve as transcription activator. Increase in GS2 expression leads to larger cells and increased numbers of cells, causing improved grain weight and yield.

Read more details from the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China. Read the research article at Molecular Plant.