Farmers worldwide have been applying nitrogenfertilizers to boost crop
yields, but excessive use could have an impact on theenvironment. Thus,
improving crop nitrogen efficiency is vital for yield increase and
environmental protection.

Foxtail millet (/Setaria italica/L.) is one of the model crops used to
study abiotic stress resistance in crops. However, the molecular
mechanisms involved in nitrogen use efficiency in foxtail millet remain
elusive. This led a team of researchers to evaluate the role of SiMYB30,
a transcription factor from foxtail millet, in controlling nitrogen
efficiency in transgenic rice.

Results showed that rice overexpressing SiMYB30 significantly increased
shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, and plant height at the seedling
stage under low nitrogen treatment indoors. Moreover, overexpression of
SiMYB30 in field experiments significantly increased grain nitrogen
content and grain yield per plant in rice. SiMYB30 also activated the
expression of nitrogen uptake-relatedgenes.

The findings highlight the role of SiMYB30 in improving the nitrogen use
efficiency of crops.

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