RFT1 — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

RFT1 (Os06g0157500) on rice chromosome 6 encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP family) and is associated with phosphatidylethanolamine binding. This gene is associated with heading date, floral development, and the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase in rice. It is linked to photoperiodism, particularly response to short days, and to vernalization response. RFT1 is also associated with grain number, grain size, grain plumpness, amylose content, protein content, panicle length, tiller number, culm length, leaf dimensions, and yield. It is linked to shoot apical meristem maintenance, inflorescence development, and heterosis. The protein localizes to the cytoplasm, nucleus, and endoplasmic reticulum. Related genes in other species are linked to floral meristem identity.