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The Crop Journal study reveals hidden regulator in foxtail millet farming

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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

Foxtail millet, an emerging plant model and an important crop with drought and barren soil tolerance

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In a study published in The Crop Journal, researchers from China uncover the role of SiPRR37 gene in modulating flowering in foxtail millet. Findings could pave the way towards the development of varieties that can thrive in diverse climates and seasons.

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Credit: Xianmin Diao from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Developing crops that adapt to specific climates or seasons is crucial for making food supplies reliable, reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture, and assuring better income for farmers. Now, researchers have discovered that SiPRR37 gene is capable of boosting the production of foxtail millet, an important crop. Their findings reveal that the SiPRR37 gene regulates millet flowering based on day length, enabling the crop to adapt to diverse climates and achieve higher yields.

In agriculture, flowering time is one of the most crucial factors affecting crop survival and production, especially in millets. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica), a nutritious and resilient millet grown across diverse climatic regions of the world, has been reported to be able to modulate its own flowering time. Owing to its ability to tolerate drought and barren soils, foxtail millet is increasingly being used as a plant model for studying gene function and crop improvement.

Several studies in the past have attempted to understand the mechanisms underlying heading date in foxtail millet. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and manipulating them can allow scientists to develop millet varieties that are better suited to specific climates or seasons beyond their original cultivation regions.

In a new study published in The Crop Journal, researchers from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China discovered that the SiPRR37 gene plays a vital role in adjusting the flowering time based on day length. This allows foxtail millets to thrive across different climates and regions.

“Our study reveals that natural variations in SiPRR37 gene enables millets to adapt its flowering time to specific regional climates,” shares lead author Liwei Wang, an Agricultural Doctor at the academy’s Institute of Crop Sciences. “This not only gives us a deeper understanding of the plant genetics but also provides a tool to optimize millet breeding.”

Notably, the researchers conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 680 millet varieties to identify genetic variants capable of regulating flowering time. The analysis revealed that SiPRR37 gene was responsible for DNA trait locus, termed Hd2, which controls the timing of flowering in foxtail millet.  Their evaluation revealed that a jumping gene — genes that transfer traits across genomes — known as “Tc1-Mariner transposon” was responsible for the variants of SiPRR37. The gene variants were haplotypes (i.e., a set of DNA variations, or polymorphisms, that tend to be inherited together) and differed across geographical locations.

“We identified two major haplotype variants, Hap 1, which is dominant in high-latitude regions, promotes early flowering. In contrast, Hap 2, dominant in low-latitude regions, delays flowering to extend the growing season,” explains Wang. “The impact of SiPRR37 changes on flowering time was then confirmed using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. SiPRR37 regulates flowering in a bifunctional manner, which means it delays flowering under long-day conditions and promotes flowering under short-day conditions. This functional switch is dependent on a critical day length of 14.3 hours.”

By editing the SiPRR37, it is possible to create millet variants tailored to specific climates. For instance, early flowering varieties can thrive in high-latitude regions while later-flowering varieties can address challenges like early maturation and low yield in tropical areas.

The study also highlights how genetic engineering can help transform agriculture and help in reducing risks associated with unpredictable weather patterns.

“We plan to explore how SiPRR37 interacts with other flowering-related genes to uncover additional strategies for breeding crops optimized for diverse environments. Our ultimate goal is to provide more reliable food supplies and improve farmers’ livelihood,” says Wang.

Media Contact: 

Name: Guangming Yang
Email address: yangguangming@caas.cn  
State of Origin: China
Tel: 13683670916


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