Expression of Rice Immunity Genes Involved in Interaction between Rhizoctonia solani and Rice

PurposeRice sheath blight (RSB) has been getting more and more severe recently and has become the most devastating rice disease in some areas, which significantly affects rice yield and quality in China. Because Rhizoctonia solani, the causal fungal pathogen of rice sheath blight is a facultative parasite that has a strong saprophytic capability and a broad host range, it has not been successful in breeding rice cultivars that are highly resistant to the disease through using traditional screening methods. In order to determine RSB related genes for disease resistance researches and breeding programs.

MethodThis study was designed to inoculate R. solani on the seedlings and mature plants of four rice cultivars that varied in their resistance to RSB, and later determine their resistant gene expression quantitatively through qPCR 24 and 48 hours post inoculations, respectively.

ResultsBoth signal transduction genes of WARK71 and WARK53 the played a crucial role in interaction between R. solani and rice. Both genes could be used as the indicative markers for resistance against RSB.

ConclusionsOur results also demonstrated that key switch genes are likely present in regulating interaction between R. solani and rice. In addition, it will be helpful to systemically analyze those components of rice resistance to RCB, which can provide a theoretical basis for rational use of resistance genes, cultivation of rice resistant varieties, and prevention and control of rice sheath blight.