Research Progress on the Functions of Rice MAPK Family Genes

doi:10.16819/j.1001-7216.2026.250910

Abstract

Abstract: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade pathway is a highly conserved signal transduction module in eukaryotes, playing a central role in plant growth and development, stress responses, and immune defense. As a globally significant food crop and a model monocot plant, rice directly links yield and quality improvements to food security. Recent studies have extensively revealed that genes of the rice MAPK family play crucial roles in grain shape and grain number formation, anther and embryo development, hormone signaling regulation, disease resistance, and adaptation to abiotic stress. This review systematically summarizes the classification and structural characteristics of the rice MAPK family, outlines recent research advances in its roles during growth and development, hormone signaling transduction, disease immunity, and stress responses, and summarizes the key identified MAPK cascade pathways and their regulatory mechanisms. This work provides a reference for further elucidating the rice MAPK signaling network and lays a theoretical foundation for molecular design breeding to enhance rice yield and stress tolerance.

Key words: rice, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), growth and development, stress response

摘要： 丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)级联通路是真核生物中高度保守的信号转导模块，在植物的生长发育、逆境响应和免疫防御中发挥核心作用。作为全球重要的粮食作物和单子叶模式植物，水稻的产量与品质提升直接关系到粮食安全。近年来，大量研究揭示了水稻MAPK家族基因在粒型和穗粒数形成、花药和胚发育、激素信号调控、抗病防御及非生物胁迫适应中发挥重要功能。本文系统综述了水稻MAPK家族的分类与结构特征，梳理了其在生长发育、激素信号转导、抗病免疫及逆境胁迫响应等方面的最新研究进展，并总结了已鉴定的关键MAPK级联通路及其调控机制。该工作为进一步揭示水稻MAPK信号网络提供了参考，同时为提高水稻产量及抗逆性的分子设计育种奠定了理论基础。

关键词: 水稻, 丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK), 生长发育, 胁迫反应

CHEN Chunxiao, FU Linli, ZHANG Wei, BU Qingyun, TIAN Xiaojie. Research Progress on the Functions of Rice MAPK Family Genes[J]. Chinese Journal OF Rice Science, 2026, 40(4): 425-435.

陈春晓, 付琳丽, 张微, 卜庆云, 田晓杰. 水稻MAPK家族基因功能研究进展[J]. 中国水稻科学, 2026, 40(4): 425-435.

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