An invisible switch for rice fertility: How phasiRNAs shape pollen development?

Sayanti Mandal; Loveness John Kimaro; Sohini Jash

doi:10.66835/psh.2026.e0009

Authors

Sayanti Mandal Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Engineering & Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4054-833X
Loveness John Kimaro Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Engineering & Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7286-5323
Sohini Jash JMS School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, United Kingdom Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66835/psh.2026.e0009

Keywords:

phasiRNA, OsAGO2, Male fertility, CRISPR, Rice, Reproduction, ARF

Abstract

Small RNAs are essential for regulating gene expression, with specialized types playing key roles in reproduction. Shao et al. (2026) discovered that novel 5'-A 21-nt phasiRNA, OsphasiR1_1, acts as an OsAGO2-dependent switch for rice male fertility by cleaving OsARF7 transcripts. Loss of this module causes OsARF7 overexpression, disrupting pollen development. This discovery reveals specialized phasiRNA pathways beyond canonical AGO5 functions, opening new avenues for climate-resilient hybrid breeding.

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