BED domain‐containing NLR from wild barley confers resistance to leaf rust

Abstract

Summary Leaf rust, caused by Puccinia hordei, is a devastating fungal disease affecting barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) production globally. Despite the effectiveness of genetic resistance, the deployment of single genes often compromises durability due to the emergence of virulent P. hordei races, prompting the search for new sources of resistance. Here we report on the cloning of Rph15, a resistance gene derived from barley’s wild progenitor H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum. We demonstrate using introgression mapping, mutation and complementation that the Rph15 gene from the near‐isogenic line (NIL) Bowman + Rph15 (referred to as BW719) encodes a coiled‐coil nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) protein with an integrated Zinc finger BED (ZF‐BED) domain. A predicted KASP marker was developed and validated across a collection of Australian cultivars and a series of introgression lines in the Bowman background known to carry the Rph15 resistance. Rph16 from HS‐680, another wild barley derived leaf rust resistance gene, was previously mapped to the same genomic region on chromosome 2H and was assumed to be allelic with Rph15 based on genetic studies. Both sequence analysis, race specificity and the identification of a knockout mutant in the HS‐680 background suggest that Rph15‐ and Rph16‐mediated resistances are in fact the same and not allelic as previously thought. The cloning of Rph15 now permits efficient gene deployment and the production of resistance gene cassettes for sustained leaf rust control.

A genome-wide comparative evolutionary analysis of zinc finger-BED transcription factor genes in land plants

“…Various zinc finger domains-containing proteins such as Lesion Simulating Disease Resistance 1 (LSD1) (C2C2), LSD One Like ( LOL1) (C2C2), ZAT12 (C2H2), ZAT7 (C2H2) and AtNFX1 (NF-X1) in Arabidopsis 14 , 15 , StZFP1 (Zinc Finger Protein) (C2H2) in Solanum tuberosum (potato) and OsLSD1 (C2C2), OsLOL1 (C2C2), OsRING-1 (RING H2, RING HC), OsRFP1, OsDOS (CCCH), OsZFP (C2H2) & SRZ1(C2C2) in Oryza sativa (rice) 11 , 13 , 16 . Recent reports indicate that zinc finger motifs have an important role in host–pathogen interactions 17 . For instance, multiple resistance proteins contain a Zf-BED domain, conferring immunity to various biotic stresses 18 .…”

“…For instance, multiple resistance proteins contain a Zf-BED domain, conferring immunity to various biotic stresses 18 . The Zf-BED domains also associate with the Nod-like receptor (NLR) proteins either at the N– or C– termini 17 , 19 – 21 . As such, NLR proteins play critical roles in plant immune responses 22 – 24 .…”

Genome-Wide Analysis of NLR Disease Resistance Genes in an Updated Reference Genome of Barley

“…Dozens of different diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes have been reported in barley, which result in significant yield reduction and poor grain quality ( Murray and Brennan, 2009 ). However, only a few R genes have been identified from barley, including the Rph1 , Rph15 and some MLA alleles ( Seeholzer et al, 2010 ; Chen et al, 2021 ).…”

Genomic-Assisted Marker Development Suitable for CsCvy-1 Selection in Cucumber Breeding

“…Map-based studies usually involve the phenotyping and genotyping of a large number of individual plants in a segregating population. Using this approach, genes conferring resistance to fungal, oomycete, bacterial, and viral pathogens have been mapped, and many of them have been cloned (Tai et al, 1999 ; Borhan et al, 2008 ; Kim et al, 2017 ; Chen et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Unknown protein approach, genes conferring resistance to fungal, oomycete, bacterial, and viral pathogens have been mapped, and many of them have been cloned (Tai et al, 1999;Borhan et al, 2008;Kim et al, 2017;Chen et al, 2021). Linkage analysis plays a significant role in the cloning genes or generating markers tightly linked to the locus of interest using map-based approach.…”