Control of root system architecture by DEEPER ROOTING 1 increases rice yield under drought conditions

Yusaku Uga and colleagues show that the gene underlying the rice quantitative trait locus DEEPER ROOTING 1 (DRO1) influences root growth angle and allows plants to maintain high yield performance under drought conditions. They further show that DRO1 is involved in cell elongation in the root tip that causes asymmetric root growth and downward bending of the root in response to gravity.