A WRKY transcription factor confers broad-spectrum resistance to biotic stresses and yield stability in rice
Abstract
Plants are subject to attack by diverse pests and pathogens. Few genes conferring broad-spectrum resistance to both insects and pathogens have been identified. Because of the growth–defense tradeoff, it is often challenging to balance biotic stress resistance and yield for crops. Here, we report that OsWRKY36 suppresses the resistance to insects and pathogens via transcriptional repression of Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyases ( PALs ), a key enzyme in phenylpropanoid pathway in rice. Knocking out OsWRKY36 causes elevated lignin biosynthesis and increased sclerenchyma thickness of leaf sheath, leading to enhanced resistance to multiple pests and pathogens. Additionally, loss of OsWRKY36 also derepresses the transcription of Ideal Plant Architecture 1 ( IPA1 ) and MONOCULM2 ( MOC2 ), resulting in increased spikelet number per panicle and tiller number. These findings provide mechanistic insights into biotic stress tolerance in rice and offer a promising strategy to breed rice cultivars with broad-spectrum resistance to insects and pathogens while maintaining stable yield.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (24)
Daoming Liu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Jun He
Qi Li
Xiao Zhang
Yongsheng Wang
Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
Quanguang Sun
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Wenhui Wang
Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry
Menglong Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Yunlong Wang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment
Haosen Xu
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Liang Fang
Ling Jiang
Optogenetics & Synthetic Biology Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Mei Long Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Shijia Liu
Peptide Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Liangming Chen
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Yunlu Tian
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Xi Liu
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Ruyi Wang
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science
Zhengguang Zhang
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University
Mawsheng Chern
Xiaoou Dong
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University
Haiyang Wang
Yuqiang Liu
Science Island Branch of Graduate School
Pamela C. Ronald
Department of Plant Pathology, University of California
Jianmin Wan
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, National Observation and Research Station of Rice Germplasm Resources, Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University