Transfer RNA modifications during rhizome development in Oryza longistaminata

The rhizome organ endows many clonal plants with the ability to reproduce under stressful climates. Such rhizome-mediated perenniality also underlies the recent success of perennial rice breeding. Despite the importance of this organ, its developmental regulation is poorly understood. Here, using Oryza longistaminata, an emerging model for rhizome biology, we explored the involvement of tRNA modification in rhizome development. Through comparative profiling of modified nucleotides in rhizome samples at different developmental stages and/or subjected to various treatments, we identified a number of key rhizome-related tRNA modifications and revealed that, akin to the observations in many non-plant organisms, tRNA modifications are associated with hormonal signalling to regulate rhizomes responses to environmental cues. Furthermore, genome-wide analysis of tRNA-modifying genes was performed to facilitate future functional studies. These results and analyses not only deepen our understanding of rhizome development but also underscore the regulatory roles of tRNA modification in plant organ development.