A team of multinational researchers led by National Research Institute for
Agriculture, Food, and the Environment of France has identified a plant gene
that provides resistance to blast disease. Their findings will help protect
rice and wheat crops that may be affected by this disease.



Blast disease is a destructive agricultural disease caused by the fungus
Magnaporthe oryzae. Originally, it only affected rice crops, but since the
1980s, it has also affected wheat. To protect crops from blast disease,
identification of disease-resistance genes may be necessary.



Scientists from France, Iran, China, and the Philippines studied the
molecular mechanisms underlying rice's resistance to blast. The team
discovered Ptr, a novel type of plant disease resistance gene, which boosts
the immunity of rice to M. oryzae. Their research lays the path for the
investigation of new resistance mechanisms based on Ptr and other novel
components, which will help with disease resistance and crop protection.



[www.nature.com]