The OsNTL3 ‐ WRKY53 ‐ CatA module confers thermotolerance in rice

High temperature is a major environmental constraint that severely limits rice (Oryza sativa) growth, yield potential, and geographical adaptability. The molecular mechanisms underlying rice adaptation to warm climates remain poorly understood. By integrating population genomic data with multi-scale phenotyping, we show that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP-1456) in the promoter of the defense transcription factor WRKY53 determines rice thermotolerance and grain yield. The thermotolerant al