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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178618
Title: CULTIVAR SPECIFICITY GENE FROM THE RICE PATHOGEN MAGNAPORTHE GRISEA, AND METHODS OF USE

Author
item Leong, Sally
item FARMAN, MARK - UNIV OF WISCONSIN

Submitted to: Patent Application
Publication Type: Patent Application
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2004
Publication Date: 9/15/2004
Citation: Leong, S.A., Farman, M.L. 2004. Cultivar specificity gene from the rice pathogen magnaporthe grisea, and methods of use. Patent Number 6,794,176.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Plant breeders create disease resistant plants by selecting plants which have inherited disease resistance genes. These genes function in the recognition of plant pathogens or their products. We have cloned a gene from the rice blast fungus which codes for one such product that allows rice variety CO39 to recognize this fungus and resist the disease called rice blast. This disease is the most important disease of rice worldwide, causing billions of dollars of loss in yield each year and jeopardizing food security in the developing world. The patenting of this gene will allow new methods to be developed commercially for control of this disease without the use of agrichemicals. This invention provides a novel avirulence gene from the rice blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea. The gene, AVR1-CO39, confers cultivar-specific avirulence to strains of M. grisea that carry the gene. Also disclosed are methods of using the gene and its encoded products for improving resistance of rice to the rice blast pathogen.