Green revolution: a mutant gibberellin-synthesis gene in rice.

Abstract

The chronic food shortage that was feared after the rapid expansion of the world population in the 1960s was averted largely by the development of a high-yielding semi-dwarf variety of rice known as IR8, the so-called rice 'green revolution'. The short stature of IR8 is due to a mutation in the plant's sd1 gene, and here we identify this gene as encoding an oxidase enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of gibberellin, a plant growth hormone. Gibberellin is also implicated in green-revolution varieties of wheat, but the reduced height of those crops is conferred by defects in the hormone's signalling pathway.

• Authors: A Sasaki, M Ashikari, M Ueguchi-Tanaka, H Itoh, A Nishimura, D Swapan, K Ishiyama, T Saito, M Kobayashi, G S Khush, H Kitano, M Matsuoka
• Journal: Nature (Nature) Vol. 416 Issue 6882 Pg. 701-2 (Apr 18 2002) ISSN: 0028-0836 [Print] England
• PMID: 11961544 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gibberellins

Topics

• Crops, Agricultural (classification, enzymology, genetics)
• Food Supply
• Genes, Plant (genetics)
• Gibberellins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Mutation (genetics)
• Oryza (classification, enzymology, genetics)
• Phenotype