Brabham, H.J., De La Cruz, D.G., Were, V., Shimizu, M., Saitoh, H., Hernández-Pinzón, I., Green, P., Lorang, J., Fujisaki, K., Sato, K., Molnár, I., Šimková, H., Doležel, J., Russell, J., Taylor, J., Smoker, M., Gupta, Y.K., Wolpert, T., Talbot, N.J., Terauchi, R., Moscou, M.J.
PLANT CELL 36: 447-470, 2024

Keywords:
Abstract: Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLRs) immune receptors directly or indirectly recognize pathogen-secreted effector molecules to initiate plant defense. Recognition of multiple pathogens by a single NLR is rare and usually occurs via monitoring for changes to host proteins; few characterized NLRs have been shown to recognize multiple effectors. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) NLR gene Mildew locus a (Mla) has undergone functional diversification, and the proteins encoded by different Mla alleles recognize host-adapted isolates of barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei [Bgh]). Here, we show that Mla3 also confers resistance to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a dosage-dependent manner. Using a forward genetic screen, we discovered that the recognized effector from M. oryzae is Pathogenicity toward Weeping Lovegrass 2 (Pwl2), a host range determinant factor that prevents M. oryzae from infecting weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Mla3 has therefore convergently evolved the capacity to recognize effectors from diverse pathogens.
DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad266
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IEB authors: Jaroslav Doležel, Istvan Molnar, Hana Šimková