OsATG4a, encoding a cysteinase in autophagic biosynthesis, increases grain size and weight in rice through dual regulation of starch content

Autophagy, a major catabolic pathway in eukaryotes, Is found participating in diverse biological functions in plant. Nevertheless, the role and functional mechanism of autophagy in regulating grain size and weight in rice is largely unexplored. Here, we identified a novel autophagy gene OsATG4a, which encodes a cysteine protease and in turn affects grain size and weight in rice.