articleScienceFeb 3, 2017Closed access

Epigenetic regulation of antagonistic receptors confers rice blast resistance with yield balance

Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences · +10 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Widespread resistance, localized relief Rice blast fungus can devastate a rice harvest. Genes that provide resistance to the fungus usually depress rice yield. Deng et al. analyzed the molecular underpinnings of a rice variant that is resistant to rice blast but still high-yielding (see the Perspective by Wang and Valent). The key locus encodes several R (resistance) genes. One gene confers resistance and is expressed throughout the plant. Another gene fails to confer resistance and is expressed only in pollen and panicles (the rice-producing flower clusters). Because the R proteins function as dimers, heterodimerization in pollen and panicles disables resistance. The plants thus produce smaller but more…

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