The clock component OsLUX regulates rice heading through recruiting OsELF3-1 and OsELF4s to repress Hd1 and Ghd7

•OsLUX regulates rice heading by repressing Hd1 and Ghd7.•Defect OsLUX causes extremely late heading phenotype dependent on Hd1 and Ghd7 under both photoperiod conditions.•The cytoplasm-nuclear shuttling mechanism explains the effect of OsELF3-1 on OsLUX.•The complete OsEC (OsELF4s–OsELF3-1–OsLUX) complex is required to regulate heading via binding to the promoters of Hd1 and Ghd7.•The repressive strength of OsEC to regulate Hd1 and Ghd7 explained the different flowering effects of OsEC components.