Natural variation in TOLS1 modulates salt tolerance via OsRacB-Ca(2+) signaling pathway in rice.

Natural variation in TOLS1 influences salt tolerance in rice by modulating OsRacB-Ca(2+) signaling, with the TOLS1 A allele exerting a stronger negative effect.

• Why it matters: Understanding the genetic basis of salt tolerance in rice is crucial for improving crop resilience, yet the underlying mechanisms and natural variation remain largely unclear.
• What they did: Researchers used genome-wide association analysis and fine-mapping to identify TOLS1 as a major QTL that negatively regulates salt tolerance, and they examined a natural SNP (SNP9) that affects TOLS1 function.
• The result: Loss of TOLS1 enhances salt tolerance by increasing cytosolic Ca(2+) elevation, and the identified allelic variation offers a potential target for molecular breeding to improve salt resilience.