Native genetic switch enhances heat resilience, grain quality, and yield in rice

This commentary describes a study showing that the natural thermo-responsive gene switch QT12 regulates rice thermotolerance by modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress and storage protein synthesis. Dual transcriptional controls optimize grain quality and yield under heat stress. Multi-site field trials validated QT12 s potential for breeding heat-resilient rice, advancing climate-smart agriculture.