R. Terauchi

Impact of rice GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR14h (GF14h) on low-temperature seed germination and its application to breeding

This paper identifies GF14h as the causal gene for low-temperature seed germination in rice and demonstrates its utility in breeding for direct seeding in cold climates.

Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

The paper identifies a functionally diverse family of Zinc-finger fold effectors in Magnaporthe oryzae, showing functional specialization across host species.

Evolution of wheat blast resistance gene Rmg8 accompanied by differentiation of variants recognizing the powdery mildew fungus

The paper traces the evolutionary origin of wheat blast resistance gene Rmg8 and shows its ability to recognize both wheat blast and powdery mildew pathogens.

Induction of plant disease resistance by mixed oligosaccharide elicitors prepared from plant cell wall and crustacean shells

This study compares the elicitor activities of different oligosaccharides from plant cell walls and crustacean shells, showing that a mixture enhances disease resistance in tomato without inhibiting growth.

Barley MLA3 recognizes the host-specificity determinant PWL2 from rice blast (M. oryzae)

The paper shows that the barley NLR Mla3 recognizes the rice blast effector PWL2, conferring resistance in a dosage-dependent manner.

Disentangling the complex gene interaction networks between rice and the blast fungus identifies a new pathogen effector

Binding of a blast fungus Zinc-finger fold effector to a hydrophobic pocket in the host exocyst subunit Exo70 modulates immune recognition in rice

This paper reveals how the blast fungus effector AVR-Pii binds to rice Exo70, modulating immune recognition through a novel Zinc-finger fold and conserved hydrophobic interface.

Effector target-guided engineering of an integrated domain expands the disease resistance profile of a rice NLR immune receptor

The paper engineers rice NLR receptors to recognize new effector variants by incorporating effector targets, enhancing disease resistance against blast fungus.

Whole genome sequencing of a wild yam species Dioscorea tokoro reveals a genomic region associated with sex

The paper reports the whole genome sequence of Dioscorea tokoro and identifies a genomic region associated with sex determination.

A Jacalin-like lectin-domain-containing protein of Sclerospora graminicola act as an apoplastic virulence effector in plant-oomycete interactions

This study identifies SgJRL proteins from Sclerospora graminicola as apoplastic virulence effectors that suppress plant defense responses during infection.

Apoplastic CBM1-interacting proteins bind conserved carbohydrate binding module 1 motifs in fungal hydrolases to counter pathogen invasion

The paper identifies OsCBMIP, a rice protein that binds to fungal CBM1 domains in xylanases, inhibiting their activity and enhancing rice defense against M. oryzae.

Two structurally different oomycete lipophilic MAMPs induce distinctive plant immune responses.

This study identifies two structurally distinct oomycete MAMPs, ceramides and diacylglycerols, that induce different plant immune responses through unique molecular patterns.

Pathogen-derived 9-methyl sphingoid base is perceived by a lectin receptor kinase in Arabidopsis

The paper shows that oomycete-derived ceramide is cleaved into sphingoid base by ceramidase and recognized by an Arabidopsis receptor kinase, enhancing plant immunity.

A genetically linked pair of NLR immune receptors show contrasting patterns of evolution

This paper studies the evolution of a rice NLR gene pair, showing that the sensor NLR undergoes dynamic domain integration under balancing selection, while the helper NLR remains functionally conserved under purifying selection.

Functional diversification gave rise to allelic specialization in a rice NLR immune receptor pair

The paper shows that allelic specialization in rice NLR receptor pairs confers resistance to fungal strains and reveals a single amino acid polymorphism driving preferential association between matching pairs.

A single amino acid polymorphism in a conserved effector of the multihost blast fungus pathogen expands host-target binding spectrum

The paper identifies a single amino acid change in APikL2 that expands its host-target binding spectrum through altered hydrogen-bonding networks.

Two NLR immune receptors acquired high-affinity binding to a fungal effector through convergent evolution of their integrated domain

The paper reconstructs the evolutionary history of rice NLR receptors Pik-1 and Pik-2, showing their HMA domain evolved convergent high-affinity binding to the fungal effector AVR-PikD.

Multiple variants of the blast fungus effector AVR-Pik bind the HMA domain of the rice protein OsHIPP19 with high affinity.

The paper identifies how multiple AVR-Pik variants bind OsHIPP19 with high affinity, revealing structural differences that enhance binding compared to Pik-1's HMA domain.

The blast pathogen effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice heavy metal-associated (HMA) proteins to co-opt their function in immunity

This study shows that the fungal effector AVR-Pik binds and stabilizes rice HMA proteins, co-opting their function to suppress immunity, while also triggering immunity in plants with integrated HMA domains in NLRs.

Genome analyses reveal the hybrid origin of the staple food crop white Guinea yam

This study reveals the hybrid origin of white Guinea yam through genomic analysis, showing it arose from crosses between D. praehensilis and D. abyssinica with significant introgression around the SWEETIE gene.

The rice NLR pair Pikp-1/Pikp-2 initiates cell death through receptor cooperation rather than negative regulation

This study shows that the rice NLR pair Pikp-1/Pikp-2 activates immunity through receptor cooperation, not negative regulation, by forming complexes with the effector AVR-PikD.

Lumi-Map, a real-time luciferase bioluminescence screen of mutants combined with MutMap, reveals Arabidopsis genes involved in PAMP-triggered immunity

Lumi-Map combines bioluminescence screening with MutMap to identify Arabidopsis genes involved in PAMP-triggered immunity, revealing three novel PTI-related genes.

Arabidopsis SMN2/HEN2, encoding DEAD-box RNA helicase, governs proper expression of the resistance gene SMN1/RPS6 and is involved in dwarf, autoimmune phenotypes of mekk1 and mpk4

This study identifies SMN2/HEN2 as a regulator of SMN1/RPS6 expression and its role in plant immunity, showing its involvement in dwarf and autoimmune phenotypes in mekk1 and mpk4 mutants.

Identification of candidate flowering and sex genes in white Guinea yam (D. rotundata Poir.) by SuperSAGE transcriptome profiling

This study identifies candidate flowering and sex genes in white Guinea yam using SuperSAGE transcriptome profiling and validates them with qRT-PCR, revealing conserved mechanisms and sex-related flowering patterns.

Protein engineering expands the effector recognition profile of a rice NLR immune receptor

This study uses structure-guided engineering to expand the effector recognition of a rice NLR receptor, showing improved binding and immune response to variant effector proteins.

Cross-reactivity of a rice NLR immune receptor to distinct effectors from the blast pathogen leads to partial disease resistance

This study shows that a rice NLR receptor can recognize a structurally similar effector from a different pathogen, leading to partial resistance.

Coexistence of multiple endemic and pandemic lineages of the rice blast pathogen

The paper uses genome sequencing to analyze the evolutionary history of the rice blast fungus, identifying six lineages with distinct population and genetic characteristics.

Gene flow between divergent cereal- and grass-specific lineages of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

This study uses whole-genome sequencing of 76 Magnaporthe oryzae isolates to analyze population structure and gene flow, revealing multiple divergent lineages and evidence of inter-lineage genetic exchange.

Lessons in effector and NLR biology of plant-microbe systems

The paper examines three effectors from the rice blast fungus and their corresponding rice NLR immune receptors to highlight general concepts of plant-microbe interactions and identify 12 lessons in effector and NLR biology.

NLR signaling network mediates immunity to diverse plant pathogens

This study identifies a large NLR immune signaling network in plants that provides broad immunity to multiple pathogen types.