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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420065
Research Project: Broadening and Strengthening the Genetic Base of Rice for Adaptation to a Changing Climate, Crop Production Systems, and Markets

Location: Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

Title: Status on genetic resistance to rice blast disease in the post genomic era

Author
item PEDROZO, RODRIGO - Orise Fellow
item OSAKINA, ARON - Washington University
item HUANG, YIXIAO - Orise Fellow
item NICOLLI, CAMILA - University Of Arkansas
item WANG, LI - Orise Fellow
item Jia, Yulin

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2025
Publication Date: 3/5/2025
Citation: Pedrozo, R., Osakina, A., Huang, Y., Nicolli, C.P., Wang, L., Jia, Y. 2025. Status on genetic resistance to rice blast disease in the post genomic era. Plants, 14:807. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050807.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050807

Interpretive Summary: Rice is vital for global food security, yet its production is threatened by rice blast disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This pathogen infects all above-ground parts of the rice plant, leading to significant yield losses. Resistance is complex, involving R genes that recognize M. oryzae effectors, triggering effector-triggered immunity (ETI). This study summarized over 100 identified resistance genes (R genes) 40 of which were cloned providing overlapped broad-spectrum resistance. This review gives us insights for future research endeavors such as the exploration of wild relatives and weedy species for novel genes and edit the susceptibility genes for non-race-specific resistance. Techniques of pangenomics and artificial intelligence including AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold, and AlphaFold3 were described for functional annotation and examining molecular basis of interactions of resistance genes with pathogen effectors for the development of rice varieties with durable blast resistance, ensuring sustainable rice productivity and food security.

Technical Abstract: Blast disease caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (syn. Pyricularia oryzae) is a major threat to rice productivity worldwide. Over 100 genes for resistance to leaf blast have been identified, many of which are located on chromosomes 6, 11, and 12. Currently, 40 of these genes have been molecularly characterized. Most of the cloned genes encode nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) proteins, while a few, such as pi21, encode a proline-rich protein with a heavy metal domain. Pid2 encodes a B-lectin kinase domain protein, and the typical protein Ptr encodes the armadillo repeat. By leveraging molecular markers linked to blast resistance genes, marker-assisted selection (MAS) accelerates the breeding process, allowing breeders to select for desired traits at an earlier stage of development with greater precision and efficiency. This approach facilitates the pyramiding of multiple resistance genes, enhancing the durability and effectiveness of broad-spectrum resistance against blast strains. Recent pangenomic studies and the utilization of modern technologies such as AI-based tools like AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold, and AlphaFold3, have improved the identification and characterization of resistance genes. These advancements expedite the development of new rice varieties with durable resistance to one of the most devastating diseases affecting rice crops globally.