Content area
Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is a major threat to global rice production, necessitating the development of resistant cultivars through genetic improvement. Breakthroughs in rice genomics, including the complete genome sequencing of japonica and indica subspecies and the availability of various sequence-based molecular markers, have greatly advanced the genetic analysis of blast resistance. To date, approximately 122 blast-resistance genes have been identified, with 39 of these genes cloned and molecularly characterized. The application of these findings in marker-assisted selection (MAS) has significantly improved rice breeding, allowing for the efficient integration of multiple resistance genes into elite cultivars, enhancing both the durability and spectrum of resistance. Pangenomic studies, along with AI-driven tools like AlphaFold2, RoseTTAFold, and AlphaFold3, have further accelerated the identification and functional characterization of resistance genes, expediting the breeding process. Future rice blast disease management will depend on leveraging these advanced genomic and computational technologies. Emphasis should be placed on enhancing computational tools for the large-scale screening of resistance genes and utilizing gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 for functional validation and targeted resistance enhancement and deployment. These approaches will be crucial for advancing rice blast resistance, ensuring food security, and promoting agricultural sustainability.
Details
Fungi;
Marker-assisted selection;
Pathogens;
Disease resistance;
Humidity;
Genetic analysis;
Plant breeding;
Genetic modification;
Genomics;
CRISPR;
Genes;
Disease;
Biology;
Computer applications;
Cultivars;
Rice blast;
Food security;
Crop production;
Genetic improvement;
Gene sequencing;
Genome editing;
Cloning;
Epidemics;
Chromosomes;
Sustainable agriculture;
Software;
Climate change;
Enzymes
; Nicolli, Camila Primieri 3 ; Wang, Li 1 ; Jia, Yulin 1
1 USDA ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, Stuttgart, AR 72160, USA;
2 USDA ARS Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center, Stuttgart, AR 72160, USA;
3 Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, University of Arkansas, Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC), Stuttgart, AR 72160, USA;