Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2025, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (5): 831-845.DOI: 10.11983/CBB25059  cstr: 32102.14.CBB25059

• RESEARCH ARTICLES • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Identification of Candidate Genes for Rice Resistance to Bacterial Blight via QTL Mapping and Gene Expression Analysis

Chen Jun1,, Xu Jiangmin1,, Zhou Yinan1, Jiang Yanan1, Hu Chengxiang1, Jin Qianyun1, Zhao Beibei1, Zhu Zhenan1, Xu Yuqing1, Zhang Luyi1, Liu Xiaoyan1, Liu Jun1, Li Sanfeng2, Wang Yuexing2,*(), Rao Yuchun1,*()   

  1. 1College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
    2State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China
  • Received:2025-04-08 Accepted:2025-06-03 Online:2025-09-10 Published:2025-06-10
  • Contact: *E-mail: wangyuexing@caas.cn; ryc@zjnu.cn
  • About author:These authors contributed equally to this paper

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Bacterial blight is one of the three major diseases that threaten global rice production, seriously damaging the yield and quality of rice. The utilization of resistance genes is one of the most effective ways to control bacterial blight. RATIONALE: To cultivate rice varieties with both resistance to bacterial blight and high-yield characteristics, stable and efficient resistance genes need to be identified and used. To identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) related to bacterial blight resistance in rice, this study used the indica rice HZ, the japonica rice Nekken2 and their 120 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) as experimental materials. Four different races of bacterial blight pathogens were inoculated at the tillering stage of rice and the resistance phenotypes were evaluated. RESULTS: Based on the high-density genetic map constructed previously, we identified 19 QTLs for resistance to rice bacterial blight, with the maximum limit of detection (LOD) value being 5.49. Candidate genes within the detected QTL intervals were screened based on their expression levels analyzed by qRT-PCR. LOC_Os04g01310 and LOC_ Os04g01320, which are related to the regulatory pathway of STK receptor protein, showed significant upregulated expression after inoculation treatment. Meanwhile, the expression levels of the MYB transcription factor family gene LOC_Os05g10690 and the gene LOC_Os01g12320 related to GDSL-like lipase/acylhydrolase showed an extremely significant increase after inoculation treatment. The expression levels of the candidate genes LOC_Os02g13270 (Mpv17/PMP22 family domain containing protein), LOC_Os02g13410 (leucine rich repeat family protein), LOC_ Os02g13420 (leucine rich repeat receptor protein kinase EXS precursor), LOC_Os02g13430 (receptor-like protein kinase 5 precursor) and LOC_Os01g12130 (enodulin MtN3 family protein) were significantly different between the two parents and were induced after inoculation with the bacterial blight pathogen. CONCLUSION: By QTL mapping and gene expression analysis, we identified several candidate genes related to rice bacterial blight resistance. These results provide clues for further fine mapping and cloning of new bacterial blight resistance genes for future breeding of rice varieties with strong resistance to bacterial blight.

QTL mapping of resistance to bacterial blight in recombinant inbred lines of rice. QTLs can be used to reveal the structure of complex quantitative traits and identify candidate genes. Based on a high-density genetic map, a total of 19 QTLs were co-located and multiple candidate genes were screened out. To further locate and clone the related genes and lay a theoretical foundation for breeding new high-yield and disease-resistant rice varieties.

Key words: Oryza sativa, bacterial blight, QTL mapping, candidate genes