The Genetic Mechanism of the Immune Response to the Rice False Smut (RFS) Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

Abstract

Rice false smut (RFS), which is caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (U. virens), has become one of the most devastating diseases in rice-growing regions worldwide. The disease results in a significant yield loss and poses health threats to humans and animals due to producing mycotoxins. In this review, we update the understanding of the symptoms and resistance genes of RFS, as well as the genomics and effectors in U. virens. We also highlight the genetic mechanism of the immune response to RFS. Finally, we analyse and explore the identification method for RFS, breeding for resistance against the disease, and interactions between the effector proteins and resistance (R) proteins, which would be involved in the development of rice disease resistance materials for breeding programmes.

Co-infection of Four Novel Mycoviruses from Three Lineages Confers Hypovirulence on Phytopathogenic Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

“…The important role of autophagy and RNA silencing (RNAi) in plant defense response against plant viruses has been demonstrated (Yang et al 2023 ; Huang et al 2023 ; Liu et al 2023 ), yet their roles in the interactions between mycoviruses and fungal hosts are still unknown. To investigate whether UvRV16 infection regulates antiviral response in U. virens , we first examined the expression of autophagy and RNAi-related genes in strain Uv325-H6-3 (infected with UvBV8 and UvBV9) and strain Uv325-H2-1 (infected with UvRV16, UvBV8 and UvBV9) using qRT-PCR.…”

“…False smut balls formed during U. virens infection of rice spikes contain multiple types of mycotoxins, including ustiloxins and ustilaginoidins, which are serious threats to human and animal health (Li et al 2019 ). Although the role of mycotoxins in U. virens infection is largely unknown, there are biochemical studies strongly confirming that some pathogenic genes are responsible for the biosynthesis pathway of mycotoxins (Li et al 2019 ; Sun et al 2020 ; Yang et al 2023 ). For example, UvPKS1 was proven to be a key enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of ustilaginoidin protein (Li et al 2019 ).…”

A Genome-Wide Comparison of Rice False Smut Fungus Villosiclava virens Albino Strain LN02 Reveals the Genetic Diversity of Secondary Metabolites and the Cause of Albinism

“…Rice false smut (RFS) caused by Villosiclava virens (anamorph: Ustilaginoidea virens) is the most common disease to decrease the yield and quality of rice grains [1,2]. With global climate change, cultivation of high-yield varieties, dense planting, and widespread application of nitrogen fertilizers, RFS not only leads to a serious decrease in rice yield, but the toxic metabolites produced by V. virens also contaminate grains and straw to cause poisoning to humans and animals [3][4][5][6].…”