Abstract

Significance Premature leaf senescence is known to decrease rice yield severely, but the molecular mechanism underlying this relationship remains largely unknown. Similarly, although abscisic acid (ABA)-induced leaf senescence has long been observed, the mechanism of this pathway has yet to be determined. In this study we identified and characterized a dominant premature leaf senescence mutant, prematurely senile 1 ( ps1-D ). The data demonstrated both that PS1/Oryza sativa NAC (no apical meristem, Arabidopsis ATAF1/2, and cup-shaped cotyledon2)-like, activated by apetala3/pistillata ( OsNAP ) is an ideal marker of natural senescence onset and that it functions as an important link between ABA and leaf senescence in rice. Furthermore, reduced OsNAP expression led to extended grain filling and an improved seed-setting rate, which significantly enhanced the grain yield. Thus, fine-tuning OsNAP expression should be a means of improving rice yield.