The DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE 1 (DEP1) gene offering the potential in the breeding of high-yielding rice

The erect panicle model super-rice can rationally transform the solar energy into accumulated organic matter (biomass) and increase grain yield. The phenotype of erect panicle architecture controlled by DENSE AND ERECT PANICLE 1 (DEP1) has been used in rice breeding for nearly a century owing to its high-yield, lodging tolerance with strong stem, reasonable population structure and high nitrogen use efficiency. DEP1 is a G protein 7 subunit that is involved in the regulation of erect panicle, number of grains per panicle, nitrogen uptake, and stress-tolerance through the G protein signal pathway. Here we review the development of erect panicle rice varieties, DEP1 alleles and regulatory network, and its physiological and morphological functions. Additionally, the further increasing the yield potential of erect-panicle super-rice, and the development of molecular designing breeding for indica-japonica hybrid rice with the dep1 gene are also prospected.