HD3A — Oryza sativa Japonica

Summary

OS06G0157700 (HD3A, also known as RFT1, VRN3, or OsRFT1) on rice chromosome 6 encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP family member). The gene is associated with flowering time regulation, including heading date, photoperiodism, and vernalization response, as well as floral and inflorescence development. It has been linked to shoot and meristem identity, grain traits such as grain number, size, plumpness, and amylose content, and yield-related parameters including panicle length, tiller number, and culm length. Additional associations include strigolactone and cytokinin biosynthesis, abscisic acid metabolism, leaf and growth traits, domestication, and hybrid incompatibility. The protein localizes to the cytoplasm, nucleus, and endoplasmic reticulum. Studies of related genes in other species connect the family to spike weight, seed dormancy, frost tolerance, and heat tolerance.