A tripartite genetic conflict system controls hybrid sterility in rice
Interspecific Asian–African hybrid rice could substantially boost yield but is limited by severe hybrid sterility. We identify RHS3 as a major quantitative trait locus controlling this trait. RHS3 encodes a tripartite toxin–antidote system composed of MAO, DUN, and JIA, in which MAO acts as a toxin that aborts gametes by disrupting mitochondrial function, whereas DUN and JIA function as antidotes that neutralize MAO toxicity, conferring a transmission advantage to the African allele. We demonstrate that detoxification relies on selective autophagy through formation of a tripartite JIA–DUN–MAO protein complex. We infer the de novo origin of RHS3 in the AA-genome rice lineage, illustrating a role for genetic conflict in speciation and suggesting strategies to harness heterosis between Asian and African rice.
Authors
- Zhigang Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1460-5863)
- Tiaofeng Shan
- Xiaowen Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8886-0432)
- Yonglun Zeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9512-6487)
- Ying Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6658-944X)
- Xiuping Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4936-7562)
- Oliver Xiaoou Dong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4692-8659)
- Ling Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1464-5881)
- Yulong Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9032-3529)
- Yuantao Zhu
- Chaolong Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7875-9189)
- Hongru Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8305-5231)
- Letian Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6413-636X)
- Dekun Lei
- Dayun Tao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8884-1589)
- Jianmin Wan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7813-4362)
- Xiangchao Gan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6398-5191)
- Haiyang Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1302-5747)
- Xi Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4175-9665)
- Yunhui Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9833-2908)
- Yehui Xiong
- Shijia Liu
- Xiaodong He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3128-5323)
- Jintao Tang
- Chuanyin Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9233-4048)
- Xiaoming Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8343-7846)
- Yunlu Tian
- Jiawu Zhou
- Xianneng Deng
- Keyu Zhao
- Ling He
- Jinxuan Xu
- Jian Wang
- Kun Shao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8862-8373)
- Anqi Jian
- Chen Xu
- Song Guo
- Bowen Yao
- Junwen Gao
- Siqi Cheng
- Song Cui
- Yulu Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9203-0519)
- Yang Hu
- Gencheng Xu
- Chao Li
- Jing Li
- Jiayu Lu
- Jinxuan Xu
- Jian Wang
- Anqi Jian
- Bowen Yao
- Chen Xu
- Song Guo
- Song Cui
- Jiawu Zhou
- Yunhui Zhang
- Siqi Cheng
- Yulu Ye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9203-0519)
- Yang Hu
- Xi Liu
- Gencheng Xu
- Yunlu Tian
- Haiyang Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1302-5747)
- Chao Li
- Jing Li
- Xiuping Guo
- Jiayu Lu
- Shijia Liu
Institutions
- South China Agricultural University (CN)
- Nanjing Agricultural University (CN)
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (CN)
- South China Botanical Garden (CN)
- Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Institute of Crop Sciences (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2026-08-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec5252
- Primary Topic
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation