The PGS1 basic helix-loop-helix protein regulates Fl3 to impact seed growth and grain yield in cereals.

Plant transcription factors (TFs), such as basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and AT-rich zinc-binding proteins (PLATZ), play critical roles in regulating the expression of developmental genes in cereals. We identified the bHLH protein TaPGS1 (T. aestivum Positive Regulator of Grain Size 1) specifically expressed in the seeds at 5-20 days post-anthesis in wheat. TaPGS1 was ectopically overexpressed (OE) in wheat and rice, leading to increased grain weight (up to 13.81% in wheat and 18.55% in rice lines) and grain size. Carbohydrate and total protein levels also increased. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the starch granules in the endosperm of TaPGS1 OE wheat and rice lines were smaller and tightly embedded in a proteinaceous matrix. Furthermore, TaPGS1 was bound directly to the E-box motif at the promoter of the PLATZ TF genes TaFl3 and OsFl3 and positively regulated their expression in wheat and rice. In rice, the OsFl3 CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines showed reduced average thousand-grain weight, grain width, and grain length in rice. Our results reveal that TaPGS1 functions as a valuable trait-associated gene for improving cereal grain yield.

Plant immunity: Rice XA21-mediated resistance to bacterial infection.

In this article, we describe the development of the plant immunity field, starting with efforts to understand the genetic basis for disease resistance, which ∼30 y ago led to the discovery of diverse classes of immune receptors that recognize and respond to infectious microbes. We focus on knowledge gained from studies of the rice XA21 immune receptor that recognizes RaxX (required for activation of XA21 mediated immunity X), a sulfated microbial peptide secreted by the gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. XA21 is representative of a large class of plant and animal immune receptors that recognize and respond to conserved microbial molecules. We highlight the complexity of this large class of receptors in plants, discuss a possible role for RaxX in Xanthomonas biology, and draw attention to the important role of sulfotyrosine in mediating receptor-ligand interactions.

Silencing of Dicer-like protein 2a restores the resistance phenotype in the rice mutant, sxi4 (suppressor of Xa21-mediated immunity 4).

The rice immune receptor XA21 confers resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), and upon recognition of the RaxX21-sY peptide produced by Xoo, XA21 activates the plant immune response. Here we screened 21 000 mutant plants expressing XA21 to identify components involved in this response, and reported here the identification of a rice mutant, sxi4, which is susceptible to Xoo. The sxi4 mutant carries a 32-kb translocation from chromosome 3 onto chromosome 7 and displays an elevated level of DCL2a transcript, encoding a Dicer-like protein. Silencing of DCL2a in the sxi4 genetic background restores resistance to Xoo. RaxX21-sY peptide-treated leaves of sxi4 retain the hallmarks of XA21-mediated immune response. However, WRKY45-1, a known negative regulator of rice resistance to Xoo, is induced in the sxi4 mutant in response to RaxX21-sY peptide treatment. A CRISPR knockout of a short interfering RNA (TE-siRNA815) in the intron of WRKY45-1 restores the resistance phenotype in sxi4. These results suggest a model where DCL2a accumulation negatively regulates XA21-mediated immunity by altering the processing of TE-siRNA815.

Paladin, a tyrosine phosphatase-like protein, is required for XA21-mediated immunity in rice.

XA21 encodes a rice immune receptor that confers robust resistance to most strains of the Gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). XA21-mediated immunity is triggered by recognition of a small protein called RaxX-sY (required for activation of XA21-mediated immunity X, tyrosine-sulfated) secreted by Xoo. To identify components regulating XA21-mediated immunity, we generated and screened a mutant population of fast-neutron-mutagenized rice expressing Ubi:Myc-XA21 for those susceptible to Xoo. Here, we report the characterization of one of these rice mutants, named sxi2 (suppressor of XA21-mediated immunity-2). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that sxi2 carries a deletion of the PALADIN (PALD) gene encoding a protein with three putative protein tyrosine phosphatase-like domains (PTP-A, -B, and -C). Expression of PALD in the sxi2 genetic background was sufficient to complement the susceptible phenotype, which requires the catalytic cysteine of the PTP-A active site to restore resistance. PALD co-immunoprecipitated with the full-length XA21 protein, whose levels are positively regulated by the presence of the PALD transgene. Furthermore, we foundd that sxi2 retains many hallmarks of XA21-mediated immunity, similar to the wild type. These results reveal that PALD, a previously uncharacterized class of phosphatase, functions in rice innate immunity, and suggest that the conserved cysteine in the PTP-A domain of PALD is required for its immune function.

Suppression of rice miR168 improves yield, flowering time and immunity.

MicroRNA168 (miR168) is a key miRNA that targets Argonaute1 (AGO1), a major component of the RNA-induced silencing complex1,2. Previously, we reported that miR168 expression was responsive to infection by Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease3. However, how miR168 regulates immunity to rice blast and whether it affects rice development remains unclear. Here, we report our discovery that the suppression of miR168 by a target mimic (MIM168) not only improves grain yield and shortens flowering time in rice but also enhances immunity to M. oryzae. These results were validated through repeated tests in rice fields in the absence and presence of rice blast pressure. We found that the miR168-AGO1 module regulates miR535 to improve yield by increasing panicle number, miR164 to reduce flowering time, and miR1320 and miR164 to enhance immunity. Our discovery demonstrates that changes in a single miRNA enhance the expression of multiple agronomically important traits.

A chlorophyll a oxygenase 1 gene ZmCAO1 contributes to grain yield and waterlogging tolerance in maize.

Chlorophylls function in photosynthesis, and are critical to plant developmental processes and responses to environmental stimuli. Chlorophyll b is synthesized from chlorophyll a by chlorophyll a oxygenase (CAO). Here, we characterize a yellow-green leaf (ygl) mutant and identify the causal gene which encodes a chlorophyll a oxygenase in maize (ZmCAO1). A 51 bp Popin transposon insertion in ZmCAO1 strongly disrupts its transcription. Low enzyme activity of ZmCAO1 leads to reduced concentrations of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, resulting in the yellow-green leaf phenotype of the ygl mutant. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate are decreased in the ygl mutant, while concentrations of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), porphobilinogen (PBG) and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) are increased. In addition, a ZmCAO1 mutation results in down-regulation of key photosynthetic genes, limits photosynthetic assimilation, and reduces plant height, ear size, kernel weight, and grain yield. Furthermore, the zmcao1 mutant shows enhanced reactive oxygen species production leading to sensitivity to waterlogging. These results demonstrate the pleiotropy of ZmCAO1 function in photosynthesis, grain yield, and waterlogging tolerance in maize.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of trade-offs between plant growth and immunity.

Trade-offs between plant growth and immunity are a well-known phenomenon in plants that are meant to ensure the best use of limited resources. Recently, many advances have been achieved on molecular regulations of the trade-offs between plant growth and immunity. Here, we provide an overview on molecular understanding of these trade-offs including those regulated at the transcriptional level or post-transcriptional level by transcriptional factors, microRNAs, and post-translational modifications of proteins, respectively The understanding on the molecular regulation of these trade-offs will provide new strategies to breed crops with high yield and enhanced resistance to disease.

Discovery of broad-spectrum fungicides that block septin-dependent infection processes of pathogenic fungi.

Many pathogenic fungi depend on the development of specialized infection structures called appressoria to invade their hosts and cause disease. Impairing the function of fungal infection structures therefore provides a potential means by which diseases could be prevented. In spite of this extraordinary potential, however, relatively few anti-penetrant drugs have been developed to control fungal diseases, of either plants or animals. In the present study, we report the identification of compounds that act specifically to prevent fungal infection. We found that the organization of septin GTPases, which are essential for appressorium-mediated infection in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, requires very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), which act as mediators of septin organization at membrane interfaces. VLCFAs promote septin recruitment to curved plasma membranes and depletion of VLCFAs prevents septin assembly and host penetration by M. oryzae. We observed that VLCFA biosynthesis inhibitors not only prevent rice blast disease, but also show effective, broad-spectrum fungicidal activity against a wide range of fungal pathogens of maize, wheat and locusts, without affecting their respective hosts. Our findings reveal a mechanism underlying septin-mediated infection structure formation in fungi and provide a class of fungicides to control diverse diseases of plants and animals.

New insights into bsr-d1-mediated broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast.

bsr-d1, an allele encoding a transcription factor identified from the rice cultivar Digu, confers durable, broad-spectrum resistance to infections by strains of Magnaporthe oryzae. bsr-d1 was predicted to inhibit M. oryzae-induced expression of Bsr-d1 RNA and degradation of hydrogen peroxide to achieve resistance to M. oryzae. However, the global effect of biological process and molecular function on blast resistance mediated by Bsr-d1 remains unknown. In this study, we compared transcriptomic profiling between Bsr-d1 knockout (Bsr-d1KO) lines and the wild type, TP309. Our study revealed that bsr-d1 mainly regulates the redox state of plant cells, but also affects amino acid and unsaturated fatty acid metabolism. We further found that BSR-D1 indirectly regulates salicylic acid biosynthesis, metabolism, and signal transduction downstream of the activation of H2 O2 signalling in the bsr-d1-mediated immune response. Furthermore, we identified a novel peroxidase-encoding gene, Perox3, as a new BSR-D1 target gene that reduces resistance to M. oryzae when overexpressed in TP309. These results provide new insights into the bsr-d1-mediated blast resistance.

Sclerenchyma cell thickening through enhanced lignification induced by OsMYB30 prevents fungal penetration of rice leaves.

Broad-spectrum resistance is highly preferred in crop breeding programmes. Previously, we have reported the identification of the broad-spectrum resistance-Digu 1 (bsr-d1) allele from rice Digu. The bsr-d1 allele prevents activation of Bsr-d1 expression by Magnaporthe oryzae infection and degradation of H2 O2 by peroxidases, leading to resistance to M. oryzae. However, it remains unknown whether defence pathways other than H2 O2 burst and peroxidases contribute to the bsr-d1-mediated immunity. Blast resistance was determined in rice leaves by spray and punch inoculations. Target genes of OsMYB30 were identified by one-hybrid assays in yeast and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Lignin content was measured by phloroglucinol-HCl staining, and acetyl bromide and thioacidolysis methods. Here, we report the involvement of the OsMYB30 gene in bsr-d1-mediated blast resistance. Expression of OsMYB30 was induced during M. oryzae infection or when Bsr-d1 was knocked out or downregulated, as occurs in bsr-d1 plants upon infection. We further found that OsMYB30 bound to and activated the promoters of 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase genes (Os4CL3 and Os4CL5) resulting in accumulation of lignin subunits G and S. This action led to obvious thickening of sclerenchyma cells near the epidermis, inhibiting M. oryzae penetration at the early stage of infection. Our study revealed novel components required for bsr-d1-mediated resistance and penetration-dependent immunity, and advanced our understanding of broad-spectrum disease resistance.

A phosphofructokinase B-type carbohydrate kinase family protein, PFKB1, is essential for chloroplast development at early seedling stage in rice.

Among the phosphofructokinase B-type carbohydrate kinase (PCK) family proteins, only few proteins, like the FRUCTOKINASE-LIKE 1 and 2, have been functionally characterized in regulation of chloroplast development. Here, we report the involvement of a PCK protein PFKB1 in chloroplast development by identification of a new rice mutant, revertible early yellowing Kitaake 2 [rey(k2)]. The mutant rey(k2) shows yellow leaf phenotype, reduced photosynthetic pigments, and retarded chloroplast development during early stages of seedlings, but gradually recovered at later stages. The phenotype of rey(k2) is resulted from the disruption of the PFKB1 protein. The Pfkb1 gene is ubiquitously expressed, and its protein is mainly targeted to the chloroplast and, in some cells, to the nucleus. In addition, the PFKB1 protein possesses phosphofructokinase activity in vitro. The rey(k2) mutant affects RNA levels of chloroplast-associated genes. In particular, the nuclear-encoded RNA polymerase (NEP)-dependent genes are expressed at a sustained high level in rey(k2) even after turning green, indicating that PFKB1 is essential for suppressing the expression of NEP-dependent genes. Taken together, our study suggests that PFKB1 functions as a novel regulator indispensable for early chloroplast development, at least partly by regulating chloroplast-associated genes.

Genome sequence of the model rice variety KitaakeX.

BACKGROUND: The availability of thousands of complete rice genome sequences from diverse varieties and accessions has laid the foundation for in-depth exploration of the rice genome. One drawback to these collections is that most of these rice varieties have long life cycles, and/or low transformation efficiencies, which limits their usefulness as model organisms for functional genomics studies. In contrast, the rice variety Kitaake has a rapid life cycle (9 weeks seed to seed) and is easy to transform and propagate. For these reasons, Kitaake has emerged as a model for studies of diverse monocotyledonous species. RESULTS: Here, we report the de novo genome sequencing and analysis of Oryza sativa ssp. japonica variety KitaakeX, a Kitaake plant carrying the rice XA21 immune receptor. Our KitaakeX sequence assembly contains 377.6 Mb, consisting of 33 scaffolds (476 contigs) with a contig N50 of 1.4 Mb. Complementing the assembly are detailed gene annotations of 35,594 protein coding genes. We identified 331,335 genomic variations between KitaakeX and Nipponbare (ssp. japonica), and 2,785,991 variations between KitaakeX and Zhenshan97 (ssp. indica). We also compared Kitaake resequencing reads to the KitaakeX assembly and identified 219 small variations. The high-quality genome of the model rice plant KitaakeX will accelerate rice functional genomics. CONCLUSIONS: The high quality, de novo assembly of the KitaakeX genome will serve as a useful reference genome for rice and will accelerate functional genomics studies of rice and other species.

Whole-Genome Sequencing Identifies a Rice Grain Shape Mutant, gs9-1.

BACKGROUND: Breeding for genes controlling key agronomic traits is an important goal of rice genetic improvement. To gain insight into genes controlling grain morphology, we screened M3 plants derived from 1,000 whole-genome sequenced (WGS) M2 Kitaake mutants to identify lines with altered grain size. RESULTS: In this study, we isolated a mutant, named fast-neutron (FN) 60-4, which exhibits a significant reduction in grain size. We crossed FN60-4 with the parental line Kitaake and analyzed the resulting backcross population. Segregation analysis of 113 lines from the BC2F2 population revealed that the mutant phenotype is controlled by a single semi-dominant locus. Mutant FN60-4 is reduced 20% in plant height and 8.8% in 1000-grain weight compared with Kitaake. FN60-4 also exhibits an 8% reduction in cell number and a 9% reduction in cell length along the vertical axis of the glume. We carried out whole-genome sequencing of DNA pools extracted from segregants with long grains or short grains, and revealed that one gene, LOC_Os09g02650, cosegregated with the grain size phenotype in the BC1F2 and BC2F2 populations. This mutant allele was named grain shape 9-1 (gs9-1). gs9-1 carries a 3-bp deletion that affects two amino acids. This locus is a new allele of the BC12/GDD1/MTD1 gene that encodes a kinesin-like protein involved in cell-cycle progression, cellulose microfibril deposition and gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. The GA biosynthesis-related gene KO2 is down-regulated in gs9-1. The dwarf phenotype of gs9-1 can be rescued by adding exogenous GA3. In contrast to the phenotypes for the other alleles, the gs9-1 is less severe, consistent with the nature of the mutation, which does not disrupt the open reading frame as observed for the other alleles. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we isolated a mutant, which exhibits altered grain shape and identified the mutated gene, gs9-1. Our study reveals that gs9-1 is a semi-dominant gene that carries a two-amino acid mutation. gs9-1 is allelic to the BC12/GDD1/MTD1 gene involved in GA biosynthesis. These results demonstrate the efficiency and convenience of cloning genes from the whole-genome sequenced Kitaake mutant population to advance investigations into genes controlling key agronomic traits in rice.

Recent advances in broad-spectrum resistance to the rice blast disease.

Blast is arguably the most devastating fungal disease of rice. Systematic studies of this disease have made significant progress and identified many genes. Broad-spectrum resistance is highly preferred in agricultural practice. Here, we focus our discussion on resistance (R) and defense-regulator (DR) genes that confer broad-spectrum resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae, in particular those potentially causing no significant yield penalties. Recent advances show that broad-spectrum resistance can be achieved without significant yield penalties, or even with yield benefits. Cross talks of defense signaling mediated by these genes are present that may allow the host to integrate different anti-fungal factors against M. oryzae infection. We also summarize possible mechanisms underlying broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast.

Osa-miR398b boosts H2 O2 production and rice blast disease-resistance via multiple superoxide dismutases.

miRNAs contribute to plant resistance against pathogens. Previously, we found that the function of miR398b in immunity in rice differs from that in Arabidopsis. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we characterized the mutants of miR398b target genes and demonstrated that multiple superoxide dismutase genes contribute to miR398b-regulated rice immunity against the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Out of the four target genes of miR398b, mutations in Cu/Zn-Superoxidase Dismutase1 (CSD1), CSD2 and Os11g09780 (Superoxide DismutaseX, SODX) led to enhanced resistance to M. oryzae and increased hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) accumulation. By contrast, mutations in Copper Chaperone for Superoxide Dismutase (CCSD) resulted in enhanced susceptibility. Biochemical studies revealed that csd1, csd2 and sodx displayed altered expression of CSDs and other superoxide dismutase (SOD) family members, leading to increased total SOD enzyme activity that positively contributed to higher H2 O2 production. By contrast, the ccsd mutant showed CSD protein deletion, resulting in decreased CSD and total SOD enzyme activity. Our results demonstrate the roles of different SODs in miR398b-regulated resistance to rice blast disease, and uncover an integrative regulatory network in which miR398b boosts total SOD activity to upregulate H2 O2 concentration and thereby improve disease resistance.

A single transcription factor promotes both yield and immunity in rice.

Plant immunity often penalizes growth and yield. The transcription factor Ideal Plant Architecture 1 (IPA1) reduces unproductive tillers and increases grains per panicle, which results in improved rice yield. Here we report that higher IPA1 levels enhance immunity. Mechanistically, phosphorylation of IPA1 at amino acid Ser163 within its DNA binding domain occurs in response to infection by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and alters the DNA binding specificity of IPA1. Phosphorylated IPA1 binds to the promoter of the pathogen defense gene WRKY45 and activates its expression, leading to enhanced disease resistance. IPA1 returns to a nonphosphorylated state within 48 hours after infection, resuming support of the growth needed for high yield. Thus, IPA1 promotes both yield and disease resistance by sustaining a balance between growth and immunity.

MoSnt2-dependent deacetylation of histone H3 mediates MoTor-dependent autophagy and plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

Autophagy is essential for appressorium-mediated plant infection by Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease and a major threat to global food security. The regulatory mechanism of pathogenicity-associated autophagy, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a plausible ortholog of yeast SNT2 in M. oryzae, which we term MoSNT2. Deletion mutants of MoSNT2 are compromised in autophagy homeostasis and display severe defects in autophagy-dependent fungal cell death and pathogenicity. These mutants are also impaired in infection structure development, conidiation, oxidative stress tolerance and cell wall integrity. MoSnt2 recognizes histone H3 acetylation through its PHD1 domain and thereby recruits the histone deacetylase complex, resulting in deacetylation of H3. MoSnt2 binds to promoters of autophagy genes MoATG6, 15, 16, and 22 to regulate their expression. In addition, MoTor controls MoSNT2 expression to regulate MoTor signaling which leads to autophagy and rice infection. Our study provides evidence of a direct link between MoSnt2 and MoTor signaling and defines a novel epigenetic mechanism by which MoSNT2 regulates infection-associated autophagy and plant infection by the rice blast fungus. ABBREVIATIONS: M. oryzae: Magnaporthe oryzae; S. cerevisiae: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; F. oxysporum: Fusarium oxysporum; U. maydis: Ustilago maydis; Compl.: complemented strains of ΔMosnt2 expressing MoSNT2-GFP; ATG: autophagy-related; HDAC: histone deacetylase complex; Tor: target of rapamycin kinase; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase in mammals; MoSnt2: DNA binding SaNT domain protein in M. oryzae; MoTor: target of rapamycin kinase in M. oryzae; MoAtg8: autophagy-related protein 8 in M. oryzae; MoHos2: hda one similar protein in M. oryzae; MoeIf4G: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 G in M. oryzae; MoRs2: ribosomal protein S2 in M. oryzae; MoRs3: ribosomal protein S3 in M. oryzae; MoIcl1: isocitrate lyase in M. oryzae; MoSet1: histone H3K4 methyltransferase in M. oryzae; Asd4: ascus development 4; Abl1: AMP-activated protein kinase ß subunit-like protein; Tig1: TBL1-like gene required for invasive growth; Rpd3: reduced potassium dependency; KAT8: lysine (K) acetyltransferase 8; PHD: plant homeodomain; ELM2: Egl-27 and MTA1 homology 2; GFP: green fluorescent protein; YFP: yellow fluorescent protein; YFPCTF: C-terminal fragment of YFP; YFPNTF: N-terminal fragment of YFP; GST: glutathione S-transferase; bp: base pairs; DEGs: differentially expressed genes; CM: complete medium; MM-N: minimum medium minus nitrogen; CFW: calcofluor white; CR: congo red; DAPI: 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; BiFC: bimolecular fluorescence complementation; RT: reverse transcription; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; qPCR: quantitative polymerase chain reaction; RNAi: RNA interference; ChIP: chromatin immunoprecipitation.

Loss of function of a rice TPR-domain RNA-binding protein confers broad-spectrum disease resistance.

Crops carrying broad-spectrum resistance loci provide an effective strategy for controlling infectious disease because these loci typically confer resistance to diverse races of a pathogen or even multiple species of pathogens. Despite their importance, only a few crop broad-spectrum resistance loci have been reported. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the rice bsr-k1 (broad-spectrum resistance Kitaake-1) mutant, which confers broad-spectrum resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae with no major penalty on key agronomic traits. Map-based cloning reveals that Bsr-k1 encodes a tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs)-containing protein, which binds to mRNAs of multiple OsPAL (OsPAL1-7) genes and promotes their turnover. Loss of function of the Bsr-k1 gene leads to accumulation of OsPAL1-7 mRNAs in the bsr-k1 mutant. Furthermore, overexpression of OsPAL1 in wild-type rice TP309 confers resistance to M. oryzae, supporting the role of OsPAL1 Our discovery of the bsr-k1 allele constitutes a significant conceptual advancement and provides a valuable tool for breeding broad-spectrum resistant rice.

Identification and characterization of rice blast resistance gene Pid4 by a combination of transcriptomic profiling and genome analysis.

Map-based cloning of plant disease resistance (R) genes is time-consuming. Here, we reported the isolation of blast R gene Pid4 using comparative transcriptomic profiling and genome-wide sequence analysis. Pid4 encodes a coiled-coil nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (CC-NBS-LRR) protein and is constitutively expressed at diverse developmental stages in the rice variety Digu. The Pid4 protein is localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Introduction of Pid4 into susceptible rice cultivars confers race-specific resistance to leaf and neck blast. Amino acid sequence comparison and blast resistance spectrum tests showed that Pid4 is a novel R gene, different from the previously reported R genes located in the same gene cluster. A Pid4 Indel marker was developed to facilitate the identification of Pid4 in different rice varieties. We demonstrated that a plant R gene can be quickly isolated using transcriptomic profiling coupled with genome-wide sequence analysis.