Identification of a 47-kb DNA fragment containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xa4</Emphasis>, a locus for bacterial blight resistance in rice

Bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae is a devastating disease in rice worldwide. The resistance gene Xa4 has been widely used in breeding programs and played an important role in protecting rice from this disease. Using 642 highly susceptible individuals and a random sample of 255 individuals from an F(2) population developed from a cross between IRBB4 and IR24, the Xa4 gene was genetically mapped to a region less than 1 cM. A contig map was constructed for the Xa4 region consisting of six non-redundant bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones and spanning approximately 500 kb in length. Analysis of recombination events in the Xa4 region located the gene locus to one BAC, 3H8. Assay of the recombinants using the subclones of 3H8 in combination with sequence analysis further narrowed the Xa4 locus down to a 47-kb fragment.     

Xa26, a gene conferring resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice, encodes an LRR receptor kinase-like protein

Rice bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is one of the most serious rice diseases worldwide. A rice gene, Xa26, conferring resistance against Xoo at both seedling and adult stages was isolated by map-based cloning strategies from the rice cultivar Minghui 63. Xa26 belongs to a multigene family consisting of four members. It encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase-like protein and is constitutively expressed. Sequence analysis revealed that IRBB3 and Zhachanglong lines that are resistant to a broad range of Xoo strains, also carry Xa26. However, significant difference in lesion length was observed among these lines after inoculation with a set of Xoo strains. Moreover, transgenic plants carrying Xa26 showed enhanced resistance compared with the donor line of the gene in both seedling and adult stages. These results suggest that the resistance conferred by Xa26 is influenced by the genetic background.     

药用野生稻转育后代一个抗白叶枯病新基因的定位

从药用野生稻渗入后代选育的水稻株系B5表现为高抗褐飞虱、白背飞虱和白叶枯病。对B5与籼稻品种明恢63杂交组合的187个重组自交系(RILs)进行了抗白叶枯病接种鉴定,采用分离集团分析法(Bulked Segregant Analysis,BSA),在第1染色体上筛选到与水稻抗白叶枯病基因相连锁RFLP分子标记。利用RILs抗病性表现型鉴定资料和构建的分子标记连锁图谱,将抗白叶枯病基因定位在第1染色体短臂的C904和R596之间,这两个分子标记间遗传距离为1．3cM。该基因对RILs群体抗病性变异的贡献率为52．96％,是一效应值较大的主效基因。这一抗白叶枯病基因不同于已报道的抗白叶枯病基因的位点,因此将其命名为Xa29(t)。     

Chromosome landing at the bacterial blight resistance gene<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Xa4</Emphasis> locus using a deep coverage rice BAC library

Xa4 is a dominantly inherited rice gene that confers resistance to Philippine race 1 of the bacterial blight pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice. In order to isolate the gene by positional cloning, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was constructed from genomic DNA isolated from an Xa4-harboring accession, IRBB56. The library contains 55,296 clones with an average insert size of 132 kb, providing 14 rice genome equivalents. Three DNA markers closely linked to Xa4 were used to screen the library. The marker RS13, a resistance gene analogue that co-segregates with Xa4, identified 18 clones, of which four and six, respectively, were simultaneously detected by the other two markers, G181 and L1044. Fingerprinting and Southern analysis indicated that these clones overlapped and define an interval spanning 420 kb. In an F2 population derived from an indica variety, IR24, and its Xa4-containing near isogenic line (NIL), IRBB4, the susceptible plants were screened in order to map the Xa4 gene genetically and physically. Out of 24 insert ends isolated from the BACs in the contig, three revealed polymorphisms between IR24 and IRBB4. Two insert ends, 56M22F and 26D24R, flanked Xa4 on each side. Based on the overlap of the BACs, six overlapping clones were considered to include the Xa4 allele, one of which, 106P13, was chosen for further investigation.     

Constitutive heterologous expression of avrXa27 in rice containing the R gene Xa27 confers enhanced resistance to compatible Xanthomonas oryzae strains

The vascular pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae ( Xoo ) and nonvascular pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola ( Xoc ) cause bacterial blight (BB) and bacterial leaf streak (BLS) diseases of rice, respectively. We have previously identified the avirulence gene avrXa27 from Xoo PXO99^A, which specifically induces the expression of the rice resistance gene Xa27 , ultimately leading to resistance against BB disease in rice. In this study, we have generated a transgenic rice line (L24) that expresses avrXa27 constitutively under the control of the PR1 promoter, and have examined its role in the host–pathogen interaction. L24 is not more susceptible to BB, indicating that avrXa27 does not contribute to virulence. AvrXa27 retains avirulence activity in L24 and, after crossing with a line containing Xa27 , progeny display phenotypic changes including inhibition of tillering, delay in flowering, stiff leaves, early leaf senescence and activation of pathogenesis-related ( PR ) genes. On challenge with a variety of compatible strains of Xoo and Xoc strain L8, lines with both avrXa27 and Xa27 also show enhanced resistance to bacterial infection. The induction of Xa27 and subsequent inhibition of Xoc growth in Xa27 plants are observed on inoculation with Xoc L8 harbouring avrXa27 . Our results indicate that the heterologous expression of avrXa27 in rice containing Xa27 triggers R gene-specific resistance and, at the same time, confers enhanced resistance to compatible strains of Xoo and Xoc . The expression of AvrXa27 and related proteins in plants has the potential to generate broad resistance in plants.     

A paralog of the MtN3/saliva family recessively confers race-specific resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae in rice

Approximately one third of the identified 34 rice major disease resistance (R) genes conferring race-specific resistance to different strains of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which causes rice bacterial blight disease, are recessive genes. However, only two of the recessive resistance genes have been characterized thus far. Here we report the characterization of another recessive resistance gene, xa25, for Xoo resistance. The xa25, localized in the centromeric region of chromosome 12, mediates race-specific resistance to Xoo strain PXO339 at both seedling and adult stages by inhibiting Xoo growth. It encodes a protein of the MtN3/saliva family, which is prevalent in eukaryotes, including mammals. Transformation of the dominant Xa25 into a resistant rice line carrying the recessive xa25 abolished its resistance to PXO339. The encoding proteins of recessive xa25 and its dominant allele Xa25 have eight amino acid differences. The expression of dominant Xa25 but not recessive xa25 was rapidly induced by PXO339 but not other Xoo strain infections. The nature of xa25-encoding protein and its expression pattern in comparison with its susceptible allele in rice-Xoo interaction indicate that the mechanism of xa25-mediated resistance appears to be different from that conferred by most of the characterized R proteins.     

水稻抗白叶枯病基因Xa4位点跨叠BAC克隆群的构建

水稻白叶枯病抗性基因Xa4已被定位于第11染色体长臂末端的分子标记VG181和L1044之间,并与抗性基因同源序列片段RS13共分离。利用这3个标记筛选IRBB56的BAC文库,共得到128个阳性BAC克隆,其中RS13获得18个阳性克隆,这18个克隆中有4个和6个我隆分别同时为G181和L1044的阳性克隆,选其中的12克隆进行分析,构建了一个从G181到L1044区间的BAC跨叠克隆,全长420kb,并且56M22、106P13和104B153个BAC克隆可覆盖整个跨叠克隆群。这一研究结果为进一步分离Xa4基因打下基础。     

Identification of an 85-kb DNA fragment containing pms1, a locus for photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility in rice

Photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile rice has a number of desirable characteristics for hybrid rice production. Previous studies identified pms1, located on chromosome 7, as a major locus for photoperiod-sensitive genic male sterility. The objective of this study was to localize the pms1 locus to a specific DNA fragment by genetic and physical mapping. Using 240 highly sterile individuals and a random sample of 599 individuals from an F2 population of over 5000 individuals from a cross between Minghui 63 and 32001S, we localized the pms1 locus by molecular marker analysis to a genetic interval of about 4 cM, 0.25 cM from RG477 on one side and 3.8 cM from R1807 on the other side. A contig map composed of seven BAC clones spanning approximate 500 kb in length was constructed for the pms1 region by screening a BAC library of Minghui 63 DNA using RFLP markers and chromosomal walking. Analysis of recombination events in the pms1 region among the highly sterile individuals reduced the length of the contig map to three BAC clones. Sequencing of one BAC clone, 2109, identified two SSR markers located 85 kb apart in the clone that flanked the pms1 locus on both sides, as indicated by the distribution of recombination events. We thus concluded that the pms1 locus was located on the fragment bounded by the two SSR markers.     

The molecular basis of disease resistance in rice

The rice gene Xa21 conferring resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), was isolated using a map-based cloning strategy. Compared with previously cloned genes, the structure of Xa21 represents a novel class of plant disease R genes encoding a putative receptor kinase (RK). This article proposes a model for the mode of action of Xa21 and summarizes our current knowledge of the modular basis of resistance in rice to bacterial leaf blight and blast.     

High-resolution mapping of the leaf rust disease resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr1</Emphasis> in wheat and characterization of BAC clones from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lr1</Emphasis> locus

Leaf rust is the most common disease in wheat production. There are more than 45 specific resistance genes described and used in wheat breeding to control epidemics of leaf rust, but none of them has been cloned. The leaf rust disease resistance gene 1 ( Lr1) is a good model gene for isolation by map-based cloning because it is a single, dominant gene which is located in the distal region of chromosome 5DL of wheat. As the first step towards the isolation of this gene we constructed a high-resolution genetic map in the region of the Lr1 locus by saturation mapping of two large segregating F(2) populations (Thatcher Lr1 x Thatcher, Thatcher Lr1 x Frisal). The resistance gene Lr1 was delimited in a 0.16-cM region between the RFLP markers ABC718 and PSR567 (0.12 cM from ABC718 and 0.04 cM from PSR567). A genomic BAC library of Aegilops tauschii (D genome) was screened using the RFLP markers ABC718 and PSR567. Five positive BAC clones were identified by ABC718 and four clones by PSR567. Two NBS-LRR type of resistance gene analogs, which encode proteins highly homologous to the bacterial blight disease resistance protein Xa1 of rice, were identified on BAC clones isolated with PSR567. Polymorphic BAC end probes were isolated from both ends of a 105-kb large BAC clone identified by ABC718. The end probes were mapped at the same locus as ABC718, and no recombination event was found within 105 kb around ABC718 in our analysis of more than 4,000 gametes.