Abstract

NF-YCs are important transcription factors with diverse functions in the plant kingdoms including seed development.NF-YC8,9,10,11and12are close homologs with similar seed-specific expression patterns. Despite the fact that some of theNF-YCsare functionally known; their biological roles have not been systematically explored yet, given the potential functional redundancy. In this study, we generated pentuple mutantpnfycofNF-YC8-12and revealed their functions in the regulation of grain quality and seed germination.pnfycgrains displayed significantly more chalkiness with abnormal starch granule packaging.pnfycseed germination and post-germination growth are much slower than the wild-type NIP, largely owing to the GA-deficiency as exogenous GA was able to fully recover the germination phenotype. The RNA-seq experiment identified a total of 469 differentially expressed genes, and several GA-, ABA- and grain quality control-related genes might be transcriptionally regulated by the five NF-YCs, as revealed by qRT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated the redundant functions ofNF-YC8-12in regulating GA pathways that underpin rice grain quality and seed germination, and shed a novel light on the functions of the seed-specificNF-YCs.Keywords:rice (Oryza sativaL.);gibberellins;abscisic acid;NF-YCs