Genetic analysis and fine mapping of a grain size QTL in the small-grain sterile rice line Zhuo201S

Development and application of the small-grain rice sterile line Zhuo201S (Z201S) has demonstrated its potential for mechanized hybrid rice seed production, leading to significant cost reductions. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for the small-grain size characteristic of Z201S remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a genetic analysis using near-isogenic lines constructed from Z210S, a small-grain rice sterile line, and R2115, a normal-grain variety. The results revealed that the small-grain trait in Z201S is governed by a single partially dominant gene, which also enhances grain number. Through mapping, we localized the causal gene to the short arm of chromosome 2, within a 113-kb physical region delimited by the molecular markers S2-4-1 and LB63. Transgenic analysis and gene expression assays highlighted LOC_Os02g14760 as the most likely candidate gene, suggesting that the small-grain size trait of Z201S is controlled by a novel locus that has not been previously identified.