Interactions between tobacco mosaic virus and the tobacco N gene

The interaction between tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tobacco harbouring the N gene is a classical system for studying gene-for-gene interactions in disease resistance. The N gene confers resistance to TMV by mediating defence responses that function to limit viral replication and movement. We isolated the N gene and determined that N belongs to the nucleotide-binding-site-leucine-rich-repeat (NBS-LRR) class of plant disease resistance genes, and encodes both full-length and truncated proteins. Sequence homologies and mutagenesis studies indicated a signalling role for the N protein similar to that seen for proteins involved in defence responses in insects and mammals. The N gene confers resistance to TMV in transgenic tomato, demonstrating the use of the NBS-LRR class of disease resistance genes in engineering crop resistance. From the pathogen side of this interaction, the TMV 126 kDa replicase protein has been implicated as the avirulence factor that triggers N-mediated defence responses. We employed Agrobacterium-mediated expression strategies to demonstrate that expression of the putative helicase region of the replicase protein is sufficient to elicit N-mediated defences. The thermosensitivity of the N-mediated response to TMV is retained when induced by expression of this replicase fragment. Thus, both components of this gene-for-gene interaction are now available for studies that address the molecular mechanisms involved in N-mediated TMV resistance.     

Identification and fine mapping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pi33</Emphasis>, the rice resistance gene corresponding to the Magnaporthe grisea avirulence gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">ACE1</Emphasis>

Rice blast disease is a major constraint for rice breeding. Nevertheless, the genetic basis of resistance remains poorly understood for most rice varieties, and new resistance genes remain to be identified. We identified the resistance gene corresponding to the cloned avirulence gene ACE1 using pairs of isogenic strains of Magnaporthe grisea differing only by their ACE1 allele. This resistance gene was mapped on the short arm of rice chromosome 8 using progenies from the crosses IR64 (resistant) × Azucena (susceptible) and Azucena × Bala (resistant). The isogenic strains also permitted the detection of this resistance gene in several rice varieties, including the differential isogenic line C101LAC. Allelism tests permitted us to distinguish this gene from two other resistance genes [Pi11 and Pi-29(t)] that are present on the short arm of chromosome 8. Segregation analysis in F₂ populations was in agreement with the existence of a single dominant gene, designated as Pi33. Finally, Pi33 was finely mapped between two molecular markers of the rice genetic map that are separated by a distance of 1.6 cM. Detection of Pi33 in different semi-dwarf indica varieties indicated that this gene could originate from either one or a few varieties.Communicated by D.J. Mackill     

Differential gene expression of rice roots inoculated with the diazotroph Herbaspirillum seropedicae

Background and aims

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary source of carbohydrate for the majority of the World's population. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is a diazotroph that lives within and on the surface of rice roots. It can promote the growth of rice, partly by supplying it with fixed nitrogen.

Methods

To better understand the rice–H. seropedicae interaction, cDNA libraries from rice roots either inoculated (RRCH) or uninoculated (RRSH) with the diazotroph were obtained and analysed.

Results

Potential differentially expressed genes identified from the libraries encoded a metallothionein-like protein type 1, a NOD26-like membrane integral protein ZmNIP2-1, a thionin family protein, an oryzain gamma chain precursor, stress-associated protein 1 (OsISAP1), probenazole-inducible protein PBZ1 and auxin- and ethylene-responsive genes. Differential expression was analysed by qRT-PCR for some of these genes and confirmed in most cases. The expression of stress- and defence-related genes coding for thionins, PBZ1 and OsISAP1 was repressed, while expression of a metallothionein gene was induced by inoculation with H. seropedicae. In contrast, expression of auxin-responsive genes was repressed, while expression of ethylene genes was either repressed or induced. The possible involvement of these and other genes in plant-bacterial interactions is discussed.

Conclusions

The decrease in expression of the defence-related proteins PBZ1 and thionins in the rice–H. seropedicae association, suggests that the bacteria modulate plant defence responses during colonisation. The expression of genes responsive to auxin and ethylene also appears to be regulated by the bacteria.     

水稻条纹病毒胁迫下的水稻全基因组表达谱

水稻条纹叶枯病由水稻条纹病毒(Rice stripe virus, RSV)引起,对我国水稻生产危害严重.为了明确RSV侵染对水稻基因表达谱的影响,采用Affymetrix水稻全基因组芯片对RSV接种后出现条纹症状第7天的武育粳3号水稻病叶和相应的健康叶片进行了全基因组表达谱分析,得到3 517个差异基因,其中2 002个表达上调,1 515个表达下调.根据TIGR数据库注释(http://www.tigr.org/tdb/e2k1/osa1/)和MIPS基因功能分类标准(http://mips.gsf.de/projects/funcat)将差异基因归类为15个功能类别,多数差异基因与植物防御、信号传导及蛋白质、碳水化合物的代谢相关,一些转录因子的表达也发生了明显的变化.代谢途径分析表明,RSV侵染后磷酸戊糖途径、类黄酮合成途径和芸苔素合成途径的相关基因表达明显增强,赤霉素合成途径相关基因的表达受到了抑制.     

A putative polyketide synthase/peptide synthetase from Magnaporthe grisea signals pathogen attack to resistant rice

Isolates of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea that carry the gene encoding Avirulence Conferring Enzyme1 (ACE1) are specifically recognized by rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars carrying the resistance gene Pi33. This recognition enables resistant plants to activate a defense response. ACE1 was isolated by map-based cloning and encodes a putative hybrid between a polyketide synthase and a nonribosomal peptide synthetase, enzymes involved in microbial secondary metabolism. ACE1 is expressed exclusively during fungal penetration of host leaves, the time point at which plant defense reactions are triggered. Ace1 appears to be localized in the cytoplasm of the appressorium. Mutation of the putative catalytic site of the beta-ketoacyl synthase domain of Ace1 abolishes recognition of the fungus by resistant rice. This suggests that Ace1 biosynthetic activity is required for avirulence. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the fungal signal recognized by resistant rice plants is the secondary metabolite whose synthesis depends on Ace1.     

稻瘟病菌AVR-pita等位基因的遗传多样性研究(简报)

由真菌Magnaporthe grisea引起的稻瘟病是我国水稻三大病害之一．也是遍及世界各水稻产区的重要病害．每年均有不同程度的发生．流行年份一般减产10％-20％．严重的达40％-50％．局部田块甚至颗粒无收。稻瘟病菌在进化过程中形成了遗传多样性和毒性易变的特性．是水稻品种抗病性容易丧失的主要原因之一。对稻瘟病系统研究的证据表明．水稻与稻瘟病菌之间的互作．符合“基因对基因”假说。也就是说．水稻有一抗病基因,稻瘟病菌中就会有相对应的无毒基因．     

Small RNAs and Gene Network in a Durable Disease Resistance Gene—Mediated Defense Responses in Rice

Accumulating data have suggested that small RNAs (sRNAs) have important functions in plant responses to pathogen invasion. However, it is largely unknown whether and how sRNAs are involved in the regulation of rice responses to the invasion of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which causes bacterial blight, the most devastating bacterial disease of rice worldwide. We performed simultaneous genome-wide analyses of the expression of sRNAs and genes during early defense responses of rice to Xoo mediated by a major disease resistance gene, Xa3/Xa26, which confers durable and race-specific qualitative resistance. A large number of sRNAs and genes showed differential expression in Xa3/Xa26-mediated resistance. These differentially expressed sRNAs include known microRNAs (miRNAs), unreported miRNAs, and small interfering RNAs. The candidate genes, with expression that was negatively correlated with the expression of sRNAs, were identified, indicating that these genes may be regulated by sRNAs in disease resistance in rice. These results provide a new perspective regarding the putative roles of sRNA candidates and their putative target genes in durable disease resistance in rice.     

Characterization of a xyloglucan endotransglucosylase gene that is up-regulated by gibberellin in rice

Xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases (XTHs) that mediate cleavage and rejoining of the beta (1-4)-xyloglucans of the primary cell wall are considered to play an important role in the construction and restructuring of xyloglucan cross-links. A novel rice (Oryza sativa) XTH-related gene, OsXTH8, was cloned and characterized after being identified by cDNA microarray analysis of gibberellin-induced changes in gene expression in rice seedlings. OsXTH8 was a single copy gene; its full-length cDNA was 1,298 bp encoding a predicted protein of 290 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that OsXTH8 falls outside of the three established subfamilies of XTH-related genes. OsXTH8 was preferentially expressed in rice leaf sheath in response to gibberellic acid. In situ hybridization and OsXTH8 promoter GUS fusion analysis revealed that OsXTH8 was highly expressed in vascular bundles of leaf sheath and young nodal roots where the cells are actively undergoing elongation and differentiation. OsXTH8 gene expression was up-regulated by gibberellic acid and there was very little effect of other hormones. In two genetic mutants of rice with abnormal height, the expression of OsXTH8 positively correlated with the height of the mutants. Transgenic rice expressing an RNAi construct of OsXTH8 exhibited repressed growth. These results indicate that OsXTH8 is differentially expressed in rice leaf sheath in relation to gibberellin and potentially involved in cell elongation processes.     

Differential expression of genes encoding Arabidopsis phospholipases after challenge with virulent or avirulent Pseudomonas isolates

Phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) has been linked to a number of cellular processes, including Tran membrane signaling and membrane degradation. Four PLD genes (alpha, beta, gamma1, and gamma2) have been cloned from Arabidopsis thalami. They encode isoforms with distinct regulatory and catalytic properties but little is known about their physiological roles. Using cDNA amplified fragment length polymorphism display and RNA blot analysis, we identified Arabidopsis PLDgamma1 and a gene encoding a lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5), lysoPL1, to be differentially expressed during host response to virulent and avirulent pathogen challenge. Examination of the expression pattern of phospholipase genes induced in response to pathogen challenge was undertaken using the lysoPL1 and gene-specific probes corresponding to the PLD isoforms a, beta, and gamma1. Each mRNA class exhibited different temporal patterns of expression after infiltration of leaves with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato with or without avrRpm1. PLDalpha was rapidly induced and remained constitutively elevated regardless of treatment. PLDbeta was transiently induced upon pathogen challenge. However, mRNA for the lysoPL1 and PLDgamma1 genes showed enhanced and sustained elevation during an incompatible interaction, in both ndr1 and overexpressing NahG genetic backgrounds. Further evidence for differential engagement of these PLD mRNA during defense responses, other than gene-for-gene interactions, was demonstrated by their response to salicylic acid treatment or wounding. Our results indicate that genes encoding lysoPL1, PLDgamma1, and PLDbeta are induced during early responses to pathogen challenge and, additionally, PLDyl and lysoPL1 are specifically upregulated during gene-for-gene interactions, leading to the hypersensitive response. We discuss the possible role of these genes in plant-pathogen interactions.     

Gene interactions and genetics of blast resistance and yield attributes in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Blast disease caused by the pathogen Pyricularia oryzae is a serious threat to rice production. Six generations viz., P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, B₁ and B₂ of a cross between blast susceptible high-yielding rice cultivar ADT 43 and resistant near isogenic line (NIL) CT13432-3R, carrying four blast resistance genes Pi1, Pi2, Pi33 and Pi54 in combination were used to study the nature and magnitude of gene action for disease resistance and yield attributes. The epistatic interaction model was found adequate to explain the gene action in most of the traits. The interaction was complementary for number of productive tillers, economic yield, lesion number, infected leaf area and potential disease incidence but duplicate epistasis was observed for the remaining traits. Among the genotypes tested under epiphytotic conditions, gene pyramided lines were highly resistant to blast compared to individuals with single genes indicating that the nonallelic genes have a complementary effect when present together. The information on genetics of various contributing traits of resistance will further aid plant breeders in choosing appropriate breeding strategy for blast resistance and yield enhancement in rice.