Plant architecture and grain yield are regulated by the novel DHHC-type zinc finger protein genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

•Cloned a novel of DHHC type zinc finger protein gene OsDHHC1 in rice.•Identified OsDHHC1 is the alternative splice variant of Os02g0819100 in rice.•OsDHHC1 can regulate plant architecture by altering the primary tiller in rice.•The grain yield increased 10.7% in OsDHHC1 overexpressed rice plant, compared with wild type ZH11.

In many plants, architecture and grain yield are affected by both the environment and genetics. In rice, the tiller is a vital factor impacting plant architecture and regulated by many genes. In this study, we cloned a novel DHHC-type zinc finger protein gene Os02g0819100 and its alternative splice variant OsDHHC1 from the cDNA of rice (Oryza sativa L.), which regulate plant architecture by altering the tiller in rice. The tillers increased by about 40% when this type of DHHC-type zinc finger protein gene was over-expressed in Zhong Hua 11 (ZH11) rice plants. Moreover, the grain yield of transgenic rice increased approximately by 10% compared with wild-type ZH11. These findings provide an important genetic engineering approach for increasing rice yields.