Identification and characterization of low-sulfur-inducible genes and pathways in roots of upland and lowland rice grown under hydroponic and soil conditions.

Sulfate transporter 1;1 (SULTR1;1) promotes root elongation under low-sulfur conditions in rice.

• Why it matters: Understanding sulfur response mechanisms in rice is crucial because low-sulfur environments are increasingly limiting crop productivity, especially in upland varieties, and are less well characterized than in Arabidopsis.
• What they did: Researchers conducted genome and transcriptome analyses of roots from upland rice DJ123 and lowland rice Nipponbare under hydroponic and soil conditions, identifying shared LS-inducible genes and cis-acting elements, and demonstrated that EIL4 acts as a key transcriptional activator.
• The result: Functional studies showed that SULTR1;1 enhances root elongation under LS conditions, offering new insights into sulfur-responsive regulation and rice adaptation to sulfur-limited environments.