水稻是研究谷类作物驯化的良好材料,其中种子落粒性消失、休眠性减弱和株型上的变化是水稻驯化过程中的3个关键事件,造就了高产、发芽整齐及可密植的现代水稻。落粒性丧失一直被认为是野生稻驯化形态学上的最直接证据,而控制落粒的主要基因Sh4和qSH1分别暗示不同的水稻驯化历史。种子休眠性的减弱适应了现代农业生产上同步发芽的需求,Sdr4、qSD7-1和qSD12基因是目前已知的调控种子休眠性的3个关键位点。野生稻匍匐生长等特点与其长期所在的易变生境有关,而栽培稻的直立生长形态则适应了农业上密植生产的需要,受PROG1等基因控制。野生稻的异交特性促进了驯化基因在群体间传播,而自花授粉则使驯化基因得以稳定遗传,从而加快人工选择的累积。目前的水稻驯化研究侧重于单基因或一些中性标记,而对控制驯化性状的网络化通路的进化研究却相对缺乏。随着功能基因组研究的深入,驯化性状的分子机理将会被全面揭示,而基于此的网络化通路研究必将更加真实地反应水稻驯化过程。文章综述了水稻关键驯化性状分子机理的研究进展,为驯化基因网络的研究提供参考,也为水稻分子设计改良提供新的思路。
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an excellent model plant in elucidation of cereal domestication. Loss of seed shat- tering, weakened dormancy, and changes in plant architecture were thought to be three key events in the rice domestication and creating the high-yield, uniform-germinating, and densely-planting modem rice. Loss of shattering is considered to be the direct morphological evidence for identifying domesticated rice. Two major shattering QTLs, Sh4 and qSH1, have dis- played different domestication histories. Weakened seed dormancy is essential for synchronous germination in agricultural production. Genes Sdr4, qSD7-1, and qSD12 impose a global and complementary adaptation strategies in controlling seed dormancy. The prostrate growth habit of wild rice is an adaptation to disturbed habitats, while the erect growth habit of rice cultivars meet the needs of compact planting, and such a plant architecture is mainly controlled by PROG1. The outcrossing habit of wild rice promotes propagation of domestication genes among different populations, while the self-pollinating habit of cultivated rice facilitates fixation of domestication genes. Currently, the researches on rice domestication mainly focus on individual genes or multiple neutral markers, and much less attention has been paid to the evolution of network controlling domestication traits. With the progress in functional genomics research, the molecular mechanism of domestication traits is emerging. Rice domestication researches based on network will be more comprehensive and better reflect rice domestica- tion process. Here, we reviewed most progresses in molecular mechanisms of rice domestication traits, in order to provide the new insights for rice domestication and molecular breeding.