The protein kinase Pstol1 from traditional rice confers tolerance of phosphorus deficiency

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 488; no. 7412; pp. 535 - 539
• Main Authors: Gamuyao, Rico, Chin, Joong Hyoun, Pariasca-Tanaka, Juan, Pesaresi, Paolo, Catausan, Sheryl, Dalid, Cheryl, Slamet-Loedin, Inez, Tecson-Mendoza, Evelyn Mae, Wissuwa, Matthias, Heuer, Sigrid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 23.08.2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/208/729/743; 631/61/447/2311; 704/172; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Agricultural production; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Breeding; Cloning; Droughts; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene mapping; Generalities. Genetics. Plant material; Genes, Plant - genetics; Genetic resources, diversity; Genetics; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Genome, Plant - genetics; Genomes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Interspecific and intergeneric hybridization, introgressions; Kinases; letter; Molecular Sequence Data; multidisciplinary; Oryza - classification; Oryza - enzymology; Oryza - genetics; Oryza - physiology; Phosphorus; Phosphorus (Nutrient); Phosphorus - deficiency; Phosphorylation; Physiological aspects; Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology; Plant growth; Plant material; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Roots - enzymology; Plant Roots - genetics; Plant Roots - growth & development; Plants, Genetically Modified; Protein kinases; Protein Kinases - genetics; Protein Kinases - metabolism; Proteins; Quantitative Trait Loci - genetics; Rice; Science; Submergence; Asia; Africa; Japan; Macronutrient(mineral); Monocotyledones; Grains; Enzyme; Landrace(plant); Transferases; Deficiency; Non-specific serine/threonine protein kinase; Gene overexpression; Tolerance; Phosphorus; Cereal crop; Quantitative trait loci; Oryza; Gene; Gramineae; Agricultural production; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Yield; Genome; Cultivar
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/nature11346

A gene that is present in phosphate-deficiency-tolerant rice but absent from modern rice varieties is characterized and named phosphorus-starvation tolerance 1 ( PSTOL1 ); overexpression of PSTOL1 in rice species that naturally lack this gene confers tolerance to low phosphorus conditions, a finding that may have implications for agricultural productivity in rice-growing countries. Rice tolerant to low-phosphate soils Rice is a staple crop for much of Asia. Rice yields in the region are low, however, with limited availability of phosphorous fertilizers and the susceptibility of rain-fed cultivation systems to climate variation among the problems. In this study, Sigrid Heuer and colleagues report the characterization of a gene called phosphorus-starvation tolerance 1 ( PSTOL1 ), which confers tolerance to phosphorus deficiency. The gene is present in the traditional rice variety Kasalath but absent from the rice reference genome and other phosphorus-starvation-intolerant modern varieties. PSTOL1 is shown to act as an enhancer of early root growth, thereby enabling plants to acquire more phosphorus and other nutrients. Introduction of this gene into locally adapted rice varieties should enhance productivity under low-phosphorus conditions. As an essential macroelement for all living cells, phosphorus is indispensable in agricultural production systems. Natural phosphorus reserves are limited 1 , and it is therefore important to develop phosphorus-efficient crops. A major quantitative trait locus for phosphorus-deficiency tolerance, Pup1 , was identified in the traditional aus -type rice variety Kasalath about a decade ago 2 , 3 . However, its functional mechanism remained elusive 4 , 5 until the locus was sequenced, showing the presence of a Pup1 -specific protein kinase gene 6 , which we have named phosphorus-starvation tolerance 1 ( PSTOL1 ). This gene is absent from the rice reference genome and other phosphorus-starvation-intolerant modern varieties 7 , 8 . Here we show that overexpression of PSTOL1 in such varieties significantly enhances grain yield in phosphorus-deficient soil. Further analyses show that PSTOL1 acts as an enhancer of early root growth, thereby enabling plants to acquire more phosphorus and other nutrients. The absence of PSTOL1 and other genes—for example, the submergence-tolerance gene SUB1A —from modern rice varieties underlines the importance of conserving and exploring traditional germplasm. Introgression of this quantitative trait locus into locally adapted rice varieties in Asia and Africa is expected to considerably enhance productivity under low phosphorus conditions.