Figure 7.

Model of how rice NUE and yield are regulated by the DNR1–auxin–OsARFs module in indica and japonica rice varieties. The DNR1^indica variant allele leads to reduced transcript and protein abundances of DNR1, and therefore the accumulation of auxin. This consequently induces OsARF-mediated activation of genes involved in both N metabolism and the inhibition of tillering. As a result, rice plants carrying the DNR1^indica allele exhibit high yield with reduced N requirement. On the contrary, the DNR1^japonica allele confers increased tillering and N demand due to a reduced auxin level.