A Novel Allelic Variant of OsAGPL2 Influences Rice Eating and Cooking Quality

Starch biosynthesis is crucial in determining rice quality during rice endosperm development. This study obtained a stable inheritable white-core endosperm mutant, <i>h5</i>, by treating the japonica rice variety Nipponbare with MNU (N-methyl-N-nitro-sourea). The mutated gene is an allele of <i>OsAGPL2</i>, which encodes the large subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), a key and rate-limiting enzyme in the rice starch biosynthesis pathway. A G-C mutation in the third exon of <i>OsAGPL2</i> led to impaired starch synthesis, significantly reduced amylose content (AC) and gel consistency (GC), and a marked decrease in AGPase activity. The haplotype analysis revealed that an SNP in the 3'UTR and two SNPs in the 5'UTR of <i>OsAGPL2</i> were associated with significant differences in AC and GC among rice resources. These SNPs can be utilized to design molecular markers for breeding programs to improve rice quality. This study elucidates the impact of OsAGPL2 on the eating and cooking quality of rice. It identifies superior haplotypes, providing a theoretical foundation and molecular markers for accumulating minor-effect genes to enhance rice quality.