SummarySalinity, as one of the most challenging environmental factors restraining crop growth and yield, poses a severe threat to global food security. To address the rising food demand, it is urgent to develop crop varieties with enhanced yield and greater salt tolerance by delving into genes associated with salt tolerance and high‐yield traits. MiR396b/GRF6 module has previously been demonstrated to increase rice yield by shaping the inflorescence architecture. In this study, we revealed that miR396b/GRF6 module can significantly improve salt tolerance of rice. In comparison with the wild type, the survival rate of MIM396 and OE‐GRF6 transgenic lines increased by 48.0% and 74.4%, respectively. Concurrent with the increased salt tolerance, the transgenic plants exhibited reduced H2O2 accumulation and elevated activities of ROS‐scavenging enzymes (CAT, SOD and POD). Furthermore, we identified ZNF9, a negative regulator of rice salt tolerance, as directly binding to the promoter of miR396b to modulate the expression of miR396b/GRF6. Combined transcriptome and ChIP‐seq analysis showed that MYB3R serves as the downstream target of miR396b/GRF6 in response to salt tolerance, and overexpression of MYB3R significantly enhanced salt tolerance. In conclusion, this study elucidated the potential mechanism underlying the response of the miR396b/GRF6 network to salt stress in rice. These findings offer a valuable genetic resource for the molecular breeding of high‐yield rice varieties endowed with stronger salt tolerance.

中文翻译：

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miR396b/GRF6模块有助于水稻耐盐性

摘要盐度作为制约作物生长和产量最具挑战性的环境因素之一，对全球粮食安全构成严重威胁。为了满足日益增长的粮食需求，迫切需要通过深入研究与耐盐和高产性状相关的基因来开发产量更高、耐盐性更强的作物品种。miR396b/GRF6此前该模块已被证明可以通过塑造花序结构来提高水稻产量。在这项研究中，我们发现 miR396b/GRF6模块可显着提高水稻的耐盐性。与野生型相比，MIM396和OE‐的存活率GRF6转基因品系分别增加了48.0%和74.4%。在耐盐性增加的同时，转基因植物表现出 H 减少。2氧2ROS 清除酶（CAT、SOD 和 POD）的积累和活性升高。此外，我们还确定了ZNF9，水稻耐盐负调节因子，直接结合 miR396b 的启动子来调节 miR396b/ 的表达GRF6。结合转录组和 ChIP-seq 分析表明MYB3R作为 miR396b/ 的下游靶标GRF6响应耐盐性和过度表达MYB3R耐盐能力显着增强。总之，本研究阐明了 miR396b/ 反应的潜在机制。GRF6水稻盐胁迫网络。这些发现为耐盐高产水稻品种的分子育种提供了宝贵的遗传资源。