[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# TGW1a locus simultaneously shortens growth duration and boosts grain yield in rice

## Details

**Authors** Li et al.

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Science

**Discipline** Agriculture & Food

**Secondary disciplines** Genetics

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ady1619) 
10.1126/science.ady1619

## In authors' words

### What they found (results)

The qTGW1a locus interacts with and stabilizes Ghd7 and Hd1 to jointly control heading date and nitrogen-use efficiency; a natural promoter allele that decouples TGW1a's linkage from the grain-number regulator Gn1a produced 3.67-8.67 days shorter growth duration and 4.22-11.00% higher grain yield across five cultivars/hybrids.

## Commentary

### In short

One locus's dual-trait effect is explained by a protein-interaction relationship plus a restructured genetic linkage — decoupling (D) two previously coupled traits lets them vary independently, a part-whole architecture change.

**Patterns it shows** S, R

**Added** 2026-08-22

**How to cite this** Li et al. (2026). TGW1a locus simultaneously shortens growth duration and boosts grain yield in rice. Science.