A 31-bp indel localised in the 5' untranslated region of OsSUT3 affects the gene expression and rice (Oryza sativa L.) pollen development

OsSUT genes have been demonstrated to be relevant for diverse biological processes in rice. In this study, we identified the close relationship between a 31-bp insertion in a 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of the OsSUT3 gene and higher OsSUT3 expression in rice panicles by qRT-PCR and transgenic research. Statistically significant results (P < 0.01) were found for this 31-bp insertions/deletions (indels) in the rice pollen development and other panicle traits, such as the pollen number, pollen fertility, seeding rate, and grain length. An evolution analysis showed that the proportion of the 31-bp insertion significantly increases in rice domestication. Therefore, the 31-bp Indel could be considered as a convenient molecular marker to screen more pollen and better panicle traits in rice breeding.