MRNA cleavage by 21-nt phasiRNAs dependent on AGO1d is important for temperature-sensitive male sterility in rice
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ABSTRACT: Temperature-sensitive male sterility is one of the core components for hybrid rice breeding based on two-line system. We previously found that knockout of ARGONAUTE 1d (AGO1d) caused temperature-sensitive male sterility in rice by influencing phased small interfering RNA (phasiRNA) biogenesis and function. However, the specific phasiRNAs and their targets underlying the temperature-sensitive male sterility in ago1d mutant remain to be determined. Here, we demonstrate that the ago1d mutant displays normal female fertility but complete male sterility at low temperature. Through a multi-omics analysis of small RNA, degradome, and transcriptome, we found that 21-nt phasiRNAs account for the greatest proportion of the 21-nt small RNA (sRNA) species in rice anthers and are sensitive to low temperature and markedly down-regulated in ago1d mutant. Moreover, we found that 21-nt phasiRNAs are essential for the mRNA cleavage of a set of fertility- and cold tolerance-associated genes, such as EDT1, TDR, OsPCF5 and OsTCP21, directly or indirectly determined by AGO1d-mediated gene silencing. The loss-of-function of 21-nt phasiRNAs can result in up-regulation of their targets and causes varying degrees of defects in male fertility and grain setting. Our results highlight the essential functions of 21-nt phasiRNAs in temperature-sensitive male sterility in rice and suggest their promising application in two-line hybrid rice breeding in the future.
ORGANISM(S): Oryza sativa
PROVIDER: GSE232779 | GEO | 2024/01/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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