OsSPL14 promotes panicle branching and higher grain productivity in rice

�Identification of alleles that improve crop production and lead to higher-yielding varieties are needed for food security. Here we show that the quantitative trait locus WFP (WEALTHY FARMER’S PANICLE) encodes OsSPL�4 (SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE � 4, also known as IPA�). Higher expression of OsSPL14 in the reproductive stage promotes panicle branching and higher grain yield in rice. OsSPL14 controls shoot branching in the vegetative stage and is affected by microRNA excision. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using the OsSLP14 WFP allele to increase rice crop yield. Introduction of the highyielding OsSPL14 WFP allele into the standard rice variety