DELAYED HEADING DATE1 interacts with OsHAP5C/D, delays flowering time and enhances yield in rice

Summary Heading date is an important agronomic trait affecting crop yield. The GRAS protein family is a plant‐specific super family extensively involved in plant growth and signal transduction. However, GRAS proteins are rarely reported have a role in regulating rice heading date. Here, we report a GRAS protein DHD 1 (Delayed Heading Date1) delays heading and enhances yield in rice. Biochemical assays showed DHD 1 physically interacts with Os HAP 5C/D both in vitro and in vivo . DHD 1 and Os HAP 5C/D located in the nucleus and showed that rhythmic expression. Both DHD 1 and Os HAP 5C/D affect heading date by regulating expression of Ehd1 . We propose that DHD 1 interacts with Os HAP 5C/D to delay heading date by inhibiting expression of Ehd1 .