The RppC-AvrRppC NLR-effector interaction mediates the resistance to southern corn rust in maize

Ce Deng; April Leonard; James Cahill; Meng Lv; Yurong Li; Shawn Thatcher; Xueying Li; Xiaodi Zhao; Wenjie Du; Zheng Li; Huimin Li; Victor Llaca; Kevin Fengler; Lisa Marshall; Charlotte Harris; Girma Tabor; Zhimin Li; Zhiqiang Tian; Qinghua Yang; Yanhui Chen; Jihua Tang; Xintao Wang; Junjie Hao; Jianbing Yan; Zhibing Lai; Xiaohong Fei; Weibin Song; Jinsheng Lai; Xuecai Zhang; Guoping Shu; Yibo Wang; Yuxiao Chang; Weiling Zhu; Wei Xiong; Juan Sun; Bailin Li; Junqiang Ding

doi:10.1016/j.molp.2022.01.007

The RppC-AvrRppC NLR-effector interaction mediates the resistance to southern corn rust in maize

Mol Plant. 2022 May 2;15(5):904-912. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.01.007. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Authors

Ce Deng¹, April Leonard², James Cahill², Meng Lv¹, Yurong Li², Shawn Thatcher², Xueying Li¹, Xiaodi Zhao¹, Wenjie Du¹, Zheng Li¹, Huimin Li¹, Victor Llaca², Kevin Fengler², Lisa Marshall², Charlotte Harris², Girma Tabor², Zhimin Li¹, Zhiqiang Tian¹, Qinghua Yang¹, Yanhui Chen¹, Jihua Tang¹, Xintao Wang³, Junjie Hao³, Jianbing Yan⁴, Zhibing Lai⁴, Xiaohong Fei⁵, Weibin Song⁵, Jinsheng Lai⁵, Xuecai Zhang⁶, Guoping Shu⁷, Yibo Wang⁷, Yuxiao Chang⁸, Weiling Zhu⁹, Wei Xiong¹⁰, Juan Sun¹¹, Bailin Li¹², Junqiang Ding¹³

Affiliations

¹ College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
² Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA 50131, USA.
³ Institute of Plant Protection, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
⁴ National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
⁶ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, 56237 Texcoco, Mexico.
⁷ Center of Biotechnology, Beijing Lantron Seed, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
⁸ Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China.
⁹ Henan Dingyou Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
¹⁰ College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, 56237 Texcoco, Mexico.
¹¹ College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China. Electronic address: sj632132@163.com.
¹² Corteva Agriscience, Johnston, IA 50131, USA. Electronic address: bailin.li@corteva.com.
¹³ College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China. Electronic address: dingjunqiang1203@163.com.

PMID: 35032688
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.01.007

Abstract

Southern corn rust (SCR), caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia polysora, is a major threat to maize production worldwide. Efficient breeding and deployment of resistant hybrids are key to achieving durable control of SCR. Here, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of RppC, which encodes an NLR-type immune receptor and is responsible for a major SCR resistance quantitative trait locus. Furthermore, we identified the corresponding avirulence effector, AvrRppC, which is secreted by P. polysora and triggers RppC-mediated resistance. Allelic variation of AvrRppC directly determines the effectiveness of RppC-mediated resistance, indicating that monitoring of AvrRppC variants in the field can guide the rational deployment of RppC-containing hybrids in maize production. Currently, RppC is the most frequently deployed SCR resistance gene in China, and a better understanding of its mode of action is critical for extending its durability.

Keywords: AvrRppC; RppC; SCR; Zea mays; maize; southern corn rust.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Basidiomycota*
Chromosome Mapping
Disease Resistance / genetics
Plant Breeding
Plant Diseases / genetics
Plant Diseases / microbiology
Zea mays* / genetics
Zea mays* / microbiology