The atypical Dof transcriptional factor OsDes1 contributes to stay-green, grain yield, and disease resistance in rice

The regulation of leaf senescence and disease resistance plays a crucial role in determining rice grain yield and quality, which are important to meet the ever-increasing food demands of the world. Here, we identified an atypical Dof transcriptional factor OsDes1 that contributes to the stay-green phenotype, grain yield, and disease resistance in rice. The expression level of <i>OsDes1</i> is positively associated with stay-green in natural variations of <i>japonica</i> rice, suggesting that <i>OsDes1</i> would be alternatively used in breeding programs. Mechanistically, OsDes1 targets the promoter of the Rieske FeS protein gene <i>OsPetC</i> to activate its expression and interacts with OsPetC to protect against its degradation, thus promoting stay-green and ultimately improving the grain yield. OsDes1 also binds to the promoter region of defense-related genes, such as <i>OsPR1b</i>, and activates their expression, leading to enhanced disease resistance. These findings offer a potential strategy for breeding rice to enhance grain yield and disease resistance.