Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.6, 277-289 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 277 Research Insight Open Access Exploring Genetic Diversity of Blast Resistance in Paddy and Upland Rice Jingyan Yang1,3, Xianyu Wang1,3, Chunli Wang1,3, Hanqi Li 1,3, Yushan Yin1,3, Xiaolong Zhao1,3, QianZhu1,2,3, Lijuan Chen1,2,3 1 Rice Research Institute, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China 2 The Key Laboratory for Crop Production and Smart Agriculture of Yunnan Province, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan,China 3 College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China Corresponding author: chenlijuan@hotmail.com Molecular Microbiology Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.6 doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0030 Received: 20 Oct., 2024 Accepted: 30 Nov., 2024 Published: 15 Dec., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Yang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Yang J.Y., Wang X.Y., Wang C.L., Li H.Q., Yin Y.S., Zhao X.L., Zhu Q., and Chen L.J., 2024, Exploring genetic diversity of blast resistance in paddy and upland rice, Molecular Microbiology Research, 14(6): 277-289 (doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0030) Abstract Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is a significant threat to rice production globally. In this review, we highlight studies on the genetic diversity and resistance mechanisms against rice blast disease in paddy rice and upland rice varieties, summarize the genetic factors contributing to blast resistance in these rice types. Based on the studies on a combination of gene-specific markers, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and transcriptome sequencing, we compare key resistance genes and alleles, revealing a diverse range of blast resistance genes in the studied rice varieties, with some showing broad-spectrum and durable resistance. We also emphasize the importance of integrating these resistance genes into breeding programs to develop new rice varieties with enhanced resistance to blast disease. The systematical outlook provide valuable insights for future genomic studies, host-pathogen interaction research, and rice improvement strategies. Keywords Rice blast resistance; Genetic diversity; Paddy rice; Upland rice; QTL mapping 1 Introduction Rice blast is the world's most serious rice disease affecting the safe production of rice, caused by the infestation of the rice blast fungus. This disease significantly impacts rice yield and quality, posing a major threat to food security, especially in regions heavily dependent on rice as a staple food (Helliwell et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2013; Chen et al., 2018). The interaction between rice and M. oryzae has been extensively studied, revealing complex mechanisms of plant immunity and pathogen virulence (Ribot et al., 2008; Liu et al., 2013; Yan et al., 2022). Effective blast resistance is crucial for sustainable rice production, as it helps mitigate the economic losses caused by this pathogen and ensures stable rice supply (Ray et al., 2016; Mgonja et al., 2017). Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) features phenotypically divergent ecotypes, upland rice and paddy rice , adapted to distinct hydrological cultivation systems. Upland rice was domesticated as a unique ecotype with high drought-aerobic adaptation under long-term natural and artificial selection in aerobic and dry soil conditions (Lyu et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2020). Traditional paddy or lowland rice is grown in paddy fields with its basal section covered by water; its production depends on a large volume of freshwater, and climate change, freshwater shortage and drought have enormously affected food security (Tuhina-Khatun et al., 2015). Paddy rice and upland rice are two important categories of rice that are cultivated in various regions. Paddy rice is known for its high yield potential and adaptability to different environmental conditions, making it a popular choice among farmers (Mgonja et al., 2017). Upland rice, on the other hand, is typically grown in non-irrigated, rain-fed conditions and is valued for its resilience to drought and other abiotic stresses (Jagadeesh et al., 2020). Both types of rice have unique genetic backgrounds and agronomic traits, which can be leveraged to enhance blast resistance through breeding programs (Chen et al., 2011). The upland rice has a significant contribution to total rice production and also plays an important role in crop rotation in the South to northern areas of the country (Fongfon et al., 2021).
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