The transcription factor OsWRKY36 regulates lamina joint development and the leaf angle in rice by modulating brassinosteroid signalling

We identified a key regulator of the rice leaf angle and plant architecture, OsWRKY36, from a rice oswrky mutant library. OsWRKY36 is highly expressed in the leaf lamina joint and promotes cell growth and expansion in adaxial parenchyma cells, leading to a greater leaf angle. Total RNA was extracted from the lamina joint tissues and total plants of 10-day-old Nip, oswrky36 mutants, and OsWRKY36-overexpresing seedlings. Sequencing was performed using Illumina Hiseq technology.