OsChlC1, a Novel Gene Encoding Magnesium-Chelating Enzyme, Affects the Content of Chlorophyll in Rice

Leaf-color mutants in rice (Oryza sativa L.) are excellent models for studying chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast development. In this study, a yellow-green-leaf mutant generated by 60Co irradiation, ygl9311, was isolated: it displayed yellow-green leaf phenotype during the complete growth cycle. Compared with wild type, photosynthetic pigment contents of leaves ygl9311 were significantly reduced, development retarded. Genetic analysis indicated that controlled single recessive nuclear gene. Map-based cloning transcriptome sequencing suggested candidate gene OsChlC1 (BGIOSGA012976), which encodes Mg-chelatase I subunit. The results CRISPR/Cas9 system RNAi knockout tests show mutation could reproduce ygl9311. conclusion, novel leaf-color affects content rice, showing relatively conserved function indica japonica cultivars.