中國超級稻的高產(chǎn)奧秘一直備受關(guān)注,，中國研究人員3月22日在英國《自然—遺傳學(xué)》（Nature Genetics）雜志網(wǎng)絡(luò)版上報(bào)告說,，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)名為“DEP1”基因的突變對促使中國超級稻增產(chǎn)起著關(guān)鍵作用，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)將有助于研究和培育出更高產(chǎn)的水稻新品種,。
水稻產(chǎn)量由分蘗數(shù),、穗粒數(shù),、粒重等多種農(nóng)藝性狀決定,，其增產(chǎn)研究也是涉及多個(gè)基因和環(huán)境綜合作用的復(fù)雜問題,，目前對水稻產(chǎn)量形成的分子基礎(chǔ)的認(rèn)識還非常有限，而且研究難度很大,。
中國科學(xué)院遺傳與發(fā)育生物學(xué)研究所傅向東研究員等人經(jīng)過5年的研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，水稻中“DEP1”基因會(huì)發(fā)生突變，突變后的基因被稱為“DEP1”,，它能促進(jìn)細(xì)胞分裂,，使得稻穗變密、枝梗數(shù)增加和每穗籽粒數(shù)增多,，從而促使水稻增產(chǎn),。
研究人員還發(fā)現(xiàn)，目前在中國東北和長江中下游地區(qū)大面積種植的高產(chǎn)水稻品種中都含有“DEP1”基因,，表明這一基因已經(jīng)在中國超級稻的增產(chǎn)中發(fā)揮了作用,。
傅向東在接受記者采訪時(shí)介紹說，“DEP1”基因不僅能促進(jìn)水稻增產(chǎn),，而且也能在其他主要農(nóng)作物（如小麥和大麥）中發(fā)揮作用,，這一發(fā)現(xiàn)對農(nóng)作物高產(chǎn)分子育種有重要應(yīng)用價(jià)值，可望由此進(jìn)一步研究和培育出更高產(chǎn)的農(nóng)作物新品種,。
據(jù)介紹,，中國農(nóng)業(yè)部于1996年啟動(dòng)了“中國超級稻研究”項(xiàng)目。十余年來,，中國超級稻已經(jīng)完成了畝產(chǎn)800公斤的目標(biāo),，正在向畝產(chǎn)900公斤邁進(jìn)。中國超級稻已經(jīng)在中國長江流域稻區(qū),、華南稻區(qū)和東北稻區(qū)廣泛種植，并推廣到全球多個(gè)國家和地區(qū),。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature Genetics 22 March 2009 | doi:10.1038/ng.352
Natural variation at the DEP1 locus enhances grain yield in rice
Xianzhong Huang1,6, Qian Qian2,6, Zhengbin Liu1, Hongying Sun1, Shuyuan He1, Da Luo3, Guangmin Xia4, Chengcai Chu5, Jiayang Li5 & Xiangdong Fu1
Grain yield is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs) derived from natural variations in many crop plants. Here we report the molecular characterization of a major rice grain yield QTL that acts through the determination of panicle architecture. The dominant allele at the DEP1 locus is a gain-of-function mutation causing truncation of a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein-like domain protein. The effect of this allele is to enhance meristematic activity, resulting in a reduced length of the inflorescence internode, an increased number of grains per panicle and a consequent increase in grain yield. This allele is common to many Chinese high-yielding rice varieties and likely represents a relatively recent introduction into the cultivated rice gene pool. We also show that a functionally equivalent allele is present in the temperate cereals and seems to have arisen before the divergence of the wheat and barley lineages.
1 The State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Centre for Plant Gene Research, Beijing, China.
2 The State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, China.
3 Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
4 College of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
5 The State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
6 These authors contributed equally to this work.
