Artificial introgression of a large chromosome fragment around the rice blast resistance gene Pi-ta in backcross progeny and several elite rice cultivars

An Efficient Method for Screening Rice Breeding Lines Against Races of Magnaporthe oryzae

Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is the most destructive rice disease worldwide. The disease symptoms are usually expressed on the leaf and panicle. The leaf disease intensity in controlled environmental conditions is frequently quantified using a 0 to 5 scale, where 0 represents the absence of symptoms, and 5 represents large eyespot lesions. However, this scale restricts the qualitative classification of the varieties into intermediate resistant and susceptible categories. Here, we develop a 0 to 6 scale for blast disease that allows proper assignment of rice breeding lines and varieties into six resistance levels (highly resistant, resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, susceptible, and highly susceptible). We evaluated 40 common rice varieties against four major blast races (IB1, IB17, IB49, and IE1-K). Varieties carrying the Pi-ta gene were either highly resistant, resistant, or moderately resistant to IB17. The IE1-K race was able to break Pi-ta-mediated resistance of the rice varieties. The Pi-z gene conferred resistance to the IB17 and IE1-K races. The varieties M201, Cheniere, and Frontier were highly susceptible (score 6; 100% disease) to the race IE1-K. Moreover, varieties that were resistant or susceptible to all four blast races also showed similar levels of resistance/susceptibility to blast disease in the field. Taken together, our data proved that the 0 to 6 blast scale can efficiently determine the resistance levels of rice varieties against major blast races. This robust method will assist rice breeding programs to incorporate durable resistance against major and emerging blast races.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Analysis of a rice blast resistance gene Pita-Fuhui2663 and development of selection marker

Rice blast is a detrimental rice disease caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we identified a resistance gene from the rice cultivar Fuhui 2663 which is resistant to the rice blast isolate KJ201. Through isolated population analyses and sequencing approaches, the candidate gene was traced to chromosome 12. With the use of a map-based cloning strategy, the resistance gene was ultimately mapped to an 80-kb resistance locus region containing the Pita gene. Candidate gene prediction and cDNA sequencing indicated that the target resistance gene in Fuhui 2663 was allelic to Pita, thus being referred to as Pita-Fuhui2663 hereafter. Further analysis showed that the Fuhui 2663 protein had one amino acid change: Ala (A) residue 918 in Pita-Fuhui2663 was replaced by Ser (S) in Pita-S, leading to a significant change in the 3D structure of the Pita-S protein. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout experiments confirmed that Pita-Fuhui2663 is responsible for the resistance phenotype of Fuhui 2663. Importantly, Pita-Fuhui2663 did not affect the main agronomic traits of the variety compared to the Pita gene as verified by knockout experiments, indicative of potential applications of Pita-Fuhui2663 in broader breeding programs. Furthermore, a Pita-Fuhui2663-dCAPS molecular marker with good specificity and high efficiency was developed to facilitate rice breeding for resistance to this devastating disease.

Characterization and Evaluation of Transgenic Rice Pyramided with the Pi Genes Pib, Pi25 and Pi54

BACKGROUND

Emergence of new pathogen strains of Magnaporthe oryzae is a major reason for recurrent failure of the resistance mediated by a single resistance gene (Pi) in rice. Stacking various Pi genes in the genome through marker-assisted selection is thus an effective strategy in rice breeding for achieving durable resistance against the pathogen. However, the effect of pyramiding of multiple Pi genes using transgenesis still remains largely unknown.

RESULTS

Three Pi genes Pib, Pi25 and Pi54 were transferred together into two rice varieties, the indica variety Kasalath and the japonica variety Zhenghan 10. Transgenic plants of both Kasalath and Zhenghan 10 expressing the Pi transgenes showed imparted pathogen resistance. All the transgenic lines of both cultivars also exhibited shorter growth periods with flowering 2-4 days early, and shorter plant heights with smaller panicle. Thus, pyramiding of the Pi genes resulted in reduced grain yields in both rice cultivars. However, tiller numbers and grain weight were generally similar between the pyramided lines and corresponding parents. A global analysis of gene expression by RNA-Seq suggested that both enhancement and, to a lesser extent, inhibition of gene transcription occurred in the pyramided plants. A total of 264 and 544 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Kasalath and Zhenghan 10, respectively. Analysis of the DEGs suggested that presence of the Pi transgenes did not alter gene expression only related to disease resistance, but also impacted many gene transcriptions in the pathways for plant growth and development, in which several were common for both Kasalath and Zhenghan 10.

CONCLUSION

Pyramiding of the Pi genes Pib, Pi25 and Pi54 via transgenesis is a potentially promising approach for improving rice resistance to the pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. However, pleiotropic effects of the Pi genes could potentially result in yield loss. These findings support the idea that immunity is often associated with yield penalties. Rational combination of the Pi genes based on the genetic background may be important to balance yield and disease resistance.

Functional Interactions Between Major Rice Blast Resistance Genes, Pi-ta and Pi-b, and Minor Blast Resistance Quantitative Trait Loci

Major blast resistance (R) genes confer resistance in a gene-for-gene manner. However, little information is available on interactions between R genes. In this study, interactions between two rice blast R genes, Pi-ta and Pi-b, and other minor blast resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were investigated in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population comprising 243 RILs from a Cybonnet (CYBT) × Saber (SB) cross. CYBT has the R gene Pi-ta and SB has Pi-b. Ten differential isolates of four Magnaporthe oryzae races (IB-1, IB-17, IB-49, and IE-1K) were used to evaluate disease reactions of the 243 RILs under greenhouse conditions. Five resistance QTLs were mapped on chromosomes 2, 3, 8, 9, and 12 with a linkage map of 179 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Among them, qBR12 (Q1), was mapped at the Pi-ta locus and accounted for 45.41% of phenotypic variation while qBR2 (Q2) was located at the Pi-b locus and accounted for 24.81% of disease reactions. The additive-by-additive epistatic interaction between Q1 (Pi-ta) and Q2 (Pi-b) was detected; they can enhance the disease resistance by an additive 0.93 using the 0 to 9 standard phenotyping method. These results suggest that Pi-ta interacts synergistically with Pi-b.

The rice blast resistance gene Ptr encodes an atypical protein required for broad-spectrum disease resistance

Plant resistance genes typically encode proteins with nucleotide binding site-leucine rich repeat (NLR) domains. Here we show that Ptr is an atypical resistance gene encoding a protein with four Armadillo repeats. Ptr is required for broad-spectrum blast resistance mediated by the NLR R gene Pi-ta and by the associated R gene Pi-ta2. Ptr is expressed constitutively and encodes two isoforms that are mainly localized in the cytoplasm. A two base pair deletion within the Ptr coding region in the fast neutron-generated mutant line M2354 creates a truncated protein, resulting in susceptibility to M. oryzae. Targeted mutation of Ptr in a resistant cultivar using CRISPR/Cas9 leads to blast susceptibility, further confirming its resistance function. The cloning of Ptr may aid in the development of broad spectrum blast resistant rice.

Co-evolutionary interactions between host resistance and pathogen avirulence genes in rice-Magnaporthe oryzae pathosystem

Rice and Magnaporthe oryzae constitutes an ideal pathosystem for studying host-pathogen interaction in cereals crops. There are two alternative hypotheses, viz. Arms race and Trench warfare, which explain the co-evolutionary dynamics of hosts and pathogens which are under continuous confrontation. Arms race proposes that both R- and Avr- genes of host and pathogen, respectively, undergo positive selection. Alternatively, trench warfare suggests that either R- or Avr- gene in the pathosystem is under balanced selection intending to stabilize the genetic advantage gained over the opposition. Here, we made an attempt to test the above-stated hypotheses in rice-M. oryzae pathosystem at loci of three R-Avr gene pairs, Piz-t-AvrPiz-t, Pi54-AvrPi54 and Pita-AvrPita using allele mining approach. Allele mining is an efficient way to capture allelic variants existing in the population and to study the selective forces imposed on the variants during evolution. Results of nucleotide diversity, neutrality statistics and phylogenetic analyses reveal that Piz-t, Pi54 and AvrPita are diversified and under positive selection at their corresponding loci, while their counterparts, AvrPiz-t, AvrPi54 and Pita are conserved and under balancing selection, in nature. These results imply that rice-M. oryzae populations are engaged in a trench warfare at least at the three R/Avr loci studied. It is a maiden attempt to study the co-evolution of three R-Avr gene pairs in this pathosystem. Knowledge gained from this study will help in understanding the evolutionary dynamics of host-pathogen interaction in a better way and will also aid in developing new durable blast resistant rice varieties in future.

Identification of a Pi9-Containing Rice Germplasm with a Newly Developed Robust Marker

The Pi9 gene in rice, originating from Oryza minuta, is an effective resistance gene for controlling rice blast disease. However, currently available linked DNA markers do not accurately identify the function of Pi9, thus hindering its efficient incorporation into new cultivars through marker-assisted selection (MAS). In addition, no known Pi9-containing rice germplasm is available to breeders. In the present study, DNA sequence variation of Pi9 alleles and their family members was analyzed in 40 diverse rice germplasm accessions from the AA genome to develop a robust Pi9 marker. In total, 29 DNA primers of 20 to 23 nucleotides were designed and each possible combination of primer pairs was used to detect Pi9. Only one combination of DNA primers, KS28/KS6, was identified to specifically detect Pi9 in the monogenic line IRBL9-W. The presence of Pi9 was verified with the predicted Pi9-specific blast reaction. Subsequently, 201 genetically diverse mini-core rice accessions from 114 countries were screened with KS28/KS6. One germplasm, IR 9660-48-1-1-2, was identified to carry Pi9 and the function of Pi9 was verified with pathogenicity assays. This robust Pi9 marker and a rice germplasm, IR9660-48-1-1-2 (GSOR310687), carrying Pi9 can be used to improve blast resistance with a MAS approach.

Coevolutionary Dynamics of Rice Blast Resistance Gene Pi-ta and Magnaporthe oryzae Avirulence Gene AVR-Pita 1

The Pi-ta gene in rice is effective in preventing infections by Magnaporthe oryzae strains that contain the corresponding avirulence gene, AVR-Pita1. Diverse haplotypes of AVR-Pita1 have been identified from isolates of M. oryzae from rice production areas in the United States and worldwide. DNA sequencing and mapping studies have revealed that AVR-Pita1 is highly unstable, while expression analysis and quantitative resistance loci mapping of the Pi-ta locus revealed complex evolutionary mechanisms of Pi-ta-mediated resistance. Among these studies, several Pi-ta transcripts were identified, most of which are probably derived from alternative splicing and exon skipping, which could produce functional resistance proteins that support a new concept of coevolution of Pi-ta and AVR-Pita1. User-friendly DNA markers for Pi-ta have been developed to support marker-assisted selection, and development of new rice varieties with the Pi-ta markers. Genome-wide association studies revealed a link between Pi-ta-mediated resistance and yield components suggesting that rice has evolved a complicated defense mechanism against the blast fungus. In this review, we detail the current understanding of Pi-ta allelic variation, its linkage with rice productivity, AVR-Pita allelic variation, and the coevolution of Pi-ta and AVR-Pita in Oryza species and M. oryzae populations, respectively. We also review the genetic and molecular basis of Pi-ta and AVR-Pita interaction, and its value in marker-assisted selection and engineering resistance.

Improving of Rice Blast Resistances in Japonica by Pyramiding Major R Genes

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a major constraint to rice production worldwide. In this study, we developed monogenic near-isogenic lines (NILs) NIL ^Pi9, NIL ^Pizt , and NIL ^Pi54 carrying genes Pi9, Pizt, and Pi54, respectively, by marker assisted backcross breeding using 07GY31 as the japonica genetic background with good agronomic traits. Polygene pyramid lines (PPLs) PPL ^Pi9+Pi54 combining Pi9 with Pi54, and PPL ^Pizt+Pi54 combining Pizt with Pi54 were then developed using corresponding NILs with genetic background recovery rates of more than 97%. Compared to 07GY31, the above NILs and PPLs exhibited significantly enhanced resistance frequencies (RFs) for both leaf and panicle blasts. RFs of both PPLs for leaf blast were somewhat higher than those of their own parental NILs, respectively, and PPL ^Pizt+Pi54 exhibited higher RF for panicle blast than NIL ^Pizt and NIL ^Pi54 (P < 0.001), hinting an additive effect on the resistance. However, PPL ^Pi9+Pi54 exhibited lower RF for panicle blast than NIL ^Pi9 (P < 0.001), failing to realize an additive effect. PPL ^Pizt+Pi54 showed higher resistant level for panicle blast and better additive effects on the resistance than PPL ^Pi9+Pi54. It was suggested that major R genes interacted with each other in a way more complex than additive effect in determining panicle blast resistance levels. Genotyping by sequencing analysis and extreme-phenotype genome-wide association study further confirmed the above results. Moreover, data showed that pyramiding multiple resistance genes did not affect the performance of basic agronomic traits. So the way to enhance levels of leaf and panicle blast resistances for rice breeding in this study is effective and may serve as a reference for breeders. Key Message: Resistant levels of rice blast is resulted from different combinations of major R genes, PPL ^Pizt+Pi54 showed higher resistant level and better additive effects on the panicle blast resistance than PPL ^Pi9+Pi54.

Genome-Wide Association of Rice Blast Disease Resistance and Yield-Related Components of Rice

Robust disease resistance may require an expenditure of energy that may limit crop yield potential. In the present study, a subset of a United States Department of Agriculture rice core collection consisting of 151 accessions was selected using a major blast resistance (R) gene, Pi-ta, marker and was genotyped with 156 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Disease reactions to Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease, were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions, and heading date, plant height, paddy and brown seed weight in two field environments were analyzed, using an association mapping approach. A total of 21 SSR markers distributed among rice chromosomes 2 to 12 were associated with blast resistance, and 16 SSR markers were associated with seed weight, heading date, and plant height. Most noticeably, shorter plants were significantly correlated with resistance to blast, rice genomes with Pi-ta were associated with lighter seed weights, and the susceptible alleles of RM171 and RM6544 were associated with heavier seed weight. These findings unraveled a complex relationship between disease resistance and yield-related components.

Statistical inference of selection and divergence of the rice blast resistance gene Pi-ta

The resistance gene Pi-ta has been effectively used to control rice blast disease, but some populations of cultivated and wild rice have evolved resistance. Insights into the evolutionary processes that led to this resistance during crop domestication may be inferred from the population history of domesticated and wild rice strains. In this study, we applied a recently developed statistical method, time-dependent Poisson random field model, to examine the evolution of the Pi-ta gene in cultivated and weedy rice. Our study suggests that the Pi-ta gene may have more recently introgressed into cultivated rice, indica and japonica, and U.S. weedy rice from the wild species, O. rufipogon. In addition, the Pi-ta gene is under positive selection in japonica, tropical japonica, U.S. cultivars and U.S. weedy rice. We also found that sequences of two domains of the Pi-ta gene, the nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeat domain, are highly conserved among all rice accessions examined. Our results provide a valuable analytical tool for understanding the evolution of disease resistance genes in crop plants.

Effectiveness and durability of the rice pi-ta gene in Yunnan province of China

Rice blast is one of the most damaging diseases of rice worldwide. In the present study, we analyzed DNA sequence variation of avirulence (AVR) genes of AVR-Pita1 in field isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae in order to understand the effectiveness of the resistance gene Pi-ta in China. Genomic DNA of 366 isolates of M. oryzae collected from Yunnan province of China were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to examine the existence of AVR-Pita1 using gene-specific PCR markers. Results of PCR products revealed that 218 isolates of M. oryzae carry AVR-Pita1. Among of them, 62.5, 56.3, 58.5, 46.7, 72.4, and 57.4% of M. oryzae carry AVR-Pita1 from northeastern, southeast, western, northwest, southwestern, and central Yunnan province, respectively. The detection rate of AVR-Pita1 was, in order: southwestern > northeastern > western > central > southeastern > northwestern Yunnan province. Moreover, in total, 18 AVR-Pita1 haplotypes encoding 13 novel AVR-Pita1 variants were identified among 60 isolates. Most DNA sequence variation was found to occur in the exon region, resulting in amino acid substitution. Six virulent haplotypes of AVR-Pita1 to Pita were identified among 60 field isolates. The AVR-Pita1 has evolved to virulence from avirulent origins via base substitution. These findings demonstrate that AVR-Pita1 is under positive selection and mutations of AVR-Pita1 are responsible for defeating race-specific resistance in nature.

Indica and japonica crosses resulting in linkage block and recombination suppression on rice chromosome 12

Understanding linkage block size and molecular mechanisms of recombination suppression is important for plant breeding. Previously large linkage blocks ranging from 14 megabases to 27 megabases were observed around the rice blast resistance gene Pi-ta in rice cultivars and backcross progeny involving an indica and japonica cross. In the present study, the same linkage block was further examined in 456 random recombinant individuals of rice involving 5 crosses ranging from F(2) to F(10) generation, with and without Pi-ta containing genomic indica regions with both indica and japonica germplasm. Simple sequence repeat markers spanning the entire chromosome 12 were used to detect recombination break points and to delimit physical size of linkage blocks. Large linkage blocks ranging from 4.1 megabases to 10 megabases were predicted from recombinant individuals involving genomic regions of indica and japonica. However, a significantly reduced block from less than 800 kb to 2.1megabases was identified from crosses of indica with indica rice regardless of the existence of Pi-ta. These findings suggest that crosses of indica and japonica rice have significant recombination suppression near the centromere on chromosome 12.

Molecular evolution of the rice blast resistance gene Pi-ta in invasive weedy rice in the USA

The Pi-ta gene in rice has been effectively used to control rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae worldwide. Despite a number of studies that reported the Pi-ta gene in domesticated rice and wild species, little is known about how the Pi-ta gene has evolved in US weedy rice, a major weed of rice. To investigate the genome organization of the Pi-ta gene in weedy rice and its relationship to gene flow between cultivated and weedy rice in the US, we analyzed nucleotide sequence variation at the Pi-ta gene and its surrounding 2 Mb region in 156 weedy, domesticated and wild rice relatives. We found that the region at and around the Pi-ta gene shows very low genetic diversity in US weedy rice. The patterns of molecular diversity in weeds are more similar to cultivated rice (indica and aus), which have never been cultivated in the US, rather than the wild rice species, Oryza rufipogon. In addition, the resistant Pi-ta allele (Pi-ta) found in the majority of US weedy rice belongs to the weedy group strawhull awnless (SH), suggesting a single source of origin for Pi-ta. Weeds with Pi-ta were resistant to two M. oryzae races, IC17 and IB49, except for three accessions, suggesting that component(s) required for the Pi-ta mediated resistance may be missing in these accessions. Signatures of flanking sequences of the Pi-ta gene and SSR markers on chromosome 12 suggest that the susceptible pi-ta allele (pi-ta), not Pi-ta, has been introgressed from cultivated to weedy rice by out-crossing.

Mapping quantitative trait Loci for resistance to rice blast

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring resistance to rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, have been under-explored. In the present study, composite interval mapping was used to identify the QTLs that condition resistance to the 6 out of the 12 common races (IB1, IB45, IB49, IB54, IC17, and ID1) of M. oryzae using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross of the moderately susceptible japonica cultivar Lemont with the moderately resistant indica cultivar Jasmine 85. Disease reactions of 227 F(7) RILs were determined using a category scale of ratings from 0, representing the most resistant, to 5, representing the most susceptible. A total of nine QTLs responsive to different degrees of phenotypic variation ranging from 5.17 to 26.53% were mapped on chromosomes 3, 8, 9, 11, and 12: qBLAST3 at 1.9 centimorgans (cM) to simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker RM282 on chromosome 3 to IB45 accounting for 5.17%; qBLAST8.1 co-segregated with SSR marker RM1148 to IB49 accounting for 6.69%, qBLAST8.2 at 0.1 cM to SSR marker RM72 to IC17 on chromosome 8 accounting for 7.22%; qBLAST9.1 at 0.1 cM to SSR marker RM257 to IB54, qBLAST9.2 at 2.1 cM to SSR marker RM108, and qBLAST9.3 at 0.1 cM to SSR marker RM215 to IC17 on chromosome 9 accounting for 4.64, 7.62, and 4.49%; qBLAST11 at 2.2 cM to SSR marker RM244 to IB45 and IB54 on chromosome 11 accounting for 26.53 and 19.60%; qBLAST12.1 at 0.3 cM to SSR marker OSM89 to IB1 on chromosome 12 accounting for 5.44%; and qBLAST12.2 at 0.3 and 0.1 cM to SSR marker OSM89 to IB49 and ID1 on chromosome 12 accounting for 9.7 and 10.18% of phenotypic variation, respectively. This study demonstrates the usefulness of tagging blast QTLs using physiological races by composite interval mapping.

Evolutionary dynamics of the genomic region around the blast resistance gene Pi-ta in AA genome Oryza species

The race-specific resistance gene Pi-ta has been effectively used to control blast disease, one of the most destructive plant diseases worldwide. A single amino acid change at the 918 position of the Pi-ta protein was known to determine resistance specificity. To understand the evolutionary dynamics present, we examined sequences of the Pi-ta locus and its flanking regions in 159 accessions composed of seven AA genome Oryza species: O. sativa, O. rufipogon, O. nivara, O. meridionalis, O. glaberrima, O. barthii, and O. glumaepatula. A 3364-bp fragment encoding a predicted transposon was found in the proximity of the Pi-ta promoter region associated with the resistance phenotype. Haplotype network analysis with 33 newly identified Pi-ta haplotypes and 18 newly identified Pi-ta protein variants demonstrated the evolutionary relationships of Pi-ta haplotypes between O. sativa and O. rufipogon. In O. rufipogon, the recent directional selection was found in the Pi-ta region, while significant deviation from neutral evolution was not found in all O. sativa groups. Results of sequence variation in flanking regions around Pi-ta in O. sativa suggest that the size of the resistant Pi-ta introgressed block was at least 5.4 Mb in all elite resistant cultivars but not in the cultivars without Pi-ta. These findings demonstrate that the Pi-ta region with transposon and additional plant modifiers has evolved under an extensive selection pressure during crop breeding.