Genome-wide association mapping reveals a rich genetic architecture of complex traits in Oryza sativa

Asian rice, Oryza sativa is a cultivated, inbreeding species that feeds over half of the world's population. Understanding the genetic basis of diverse physiological, developmental, and morphological traits provides the basis for improving yield, quality and sustainability of rice. Here we show the results of a genome-wide association study based on genotyping 44,100 SNP variants across 413 diverse accessions of O. sativa collected from 82 countries that were systematically phenotyped for 34 traits. Using cross-population-based mapping strategies, we identified dozens of common variants influencing numerous complex traits. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the genetic architecture associated with subpopulation structure and response to environment. This work establishes an open-source translational research platform for genome-wide association studies in rice that directly links molecular variation in genes and metabolic pathways with the germplasm resources needed to accelerate varietal development and crop improvement

Interactions between circadian rhythms, ROS and redox

Circadian rhythms are endogenous biological cycles with a period of about 24 h. In plants, circadian rhythms have a pervasive influence upon metabolism, physiology and development, yet we are still discovering how these rhythms interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and signalling. Recent work has identified circadian rhythms of ROS generation and ROS-scavenging enzymes, and there are also circadian rhythms of ROS-generating photosynthesis. Here, we summarise our current understanding of the relationship between the circadian system and ROS, and suggest roles for ROS in circadian signalling between organelles and the circadian regulation of guard cell function. There are circadian rhythms of peroxiredoxin oxidation state that occur in the absence of transcription and translation. It seems that there could be multiple levels of integration between ROS, redox and circadian regulation