Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Plant Sci.

Sec. Plant Biotechnology

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1532180

Genetic and Molecular Insights into Tiller Development and Approaches for Crop Yield Improvement

Provisionally accepted
Zaid Chachar Zaid Chachar 1Xiaoming Xue Xiaoming Xue 1Fang Junteng Fang Junteng 1Ming Chen Ming Chen 1Weiwei Chen Weiwei Chen 2Li Xu Hui Li Xu Hui 2Nazir Ahmed Nazir Ahmed 3Sadaruddin Chachar Sadaruddin Chachar 3Aamir Ali Aamir Ali 4Zhong Liang Chen Zhong Liang Chen 5Lina Fan Lina Fan 1*Ruiqiang Lai Ruiqiang Lai 1*Yongwen Qi Yongwen Qi 1*
  • 1 College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
  • 2 Institute of Nanfan & Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Science, Guangzhou 510316, Guangzhou, China
  • 3 College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China., Guangzhou, China
  • 4 College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China., Taigu, China
  • 5 Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, 530007, China, Nanjing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This review uniquely integrates insights from QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and transcriptome analyses across multiple crops to provide a holistic understanding of tiller development, a critical factor for crop yield enhancement. By highlighting key genetic loci, regulatory pathways, and gene candidates involved in tillering across wheat, maize, rice, and sugarcane, this work advances the field's knowledge of the genetic and molecular mechanisms that influence tillering. This multi-omics approach not only identifies significant genetic targets, such as TaMAX1, ZmTB1, and SoMAX genes, but also offers a foundation for innovative breeding and genetic engineering strategies aimed at increasing yield potential through optimized tillering traits.

    Keywords: Tiller development, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), transcriptome analysis, Genes

    Received: 21 Nov 2024; Accepted: 26 Feb 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Chachar, Xue, Junteng, Chen, Chen, Hui, Ahmed, Chachar, Ali, Liang Chen, Fan, Lai and Qi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Lina Fan, College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
    Ruiqiang Lai, College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China
    Yongwen Qi, College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

    Research integrity at Frontiers

    Man ultramarathon runner in the mountains he trains at sunset

    94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or good

    Learn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish.


    Find out more