Controlling the growth of pollen tubes is essential for successful pollination and fertilization in plants. Scientists from China have now identified a small peptide that regulates the growth of pollen tubes in rice. The research, published in Nature Communications, could help breeders develop more efficient pollinating varieties of rice, which could be valuable in addressing the global food crisis. The peptide, named SbPep1, is the first peptide to be identified that is involved in the regulation of pollen tube growth in rice. The researchers found that SbPep1 functions by binding to the surface of the pollen tube, promoting its growth. The peptide also binds to and activates a receptor on the pollen tube, which in turn activates several downstream pathways that promote pollen tube growth.

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source: Phys.org