OsWRI1a coordinates systemic growth responses to nitrogen availability in rice
Summary
Nitrogen (N) deficiency-induced increases in the root-to-shoot biomass ratio in plants are adaptive in nature but suboptimal for agriculture. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing this developmental plasticity could help improve crop performance while reducing fertilizer application. We identified OsWRI1a (WRINKLED1a) as a regulatory hub coordinating rice root and shoot growth in response to external N supply, thereby stabilizing the root-to-shoot ratio. In roots, OsWRI1a enhan
Content
# OsWRI1a coordinates systemic growth responses to nitrogen availability in rice
*Published: 2026 Feb 26*
Nitrogen (N) deficiency-induced increases in the root-to-shoot biomass ratio in
plants are adaptive in nature but suboptimal for agriculture. Understanding the
regulatory mechanisms governing this developmental plasticity could help improve
crop performance while reducing fertilizer application. We identified OsWRI1a
(WRINKLED1a) as a regulatory hub coordinating rice root and shoot growth in
response to external N supply, thereby stabilizing the root-to-shoot ratio. In
roots, OsWRI1a enhances N-responsive development by promoting auxin
accumulation. Meanwhile, shoot OsWRI1a stimulates tiller development and
therefore shoot growth. We identified an elite OsWRI1a haplotype that minimizes
root-to-shoot ratio fluctuation under N deficiency, improving N-use efficiency
and grain yield. Our findings reveal a central mechanism coordinating
N-responsive growth allocation for sustainable agriculture.
DOI: 10.1126/science.aeb8384