Hiroe Utsushi

Fine-tuning quantitative agronomic traits by manipulating gene copy number in rice

This study manipulates gene copy number in rice to fine-tune agronomic traits, showing that increasing OsMADS18 copies leads to longer leaf and culm lengths.

Genomic prediction models based on a large-scale recombinant population allow rapid breeding of desired genotypes

The paper presents a genomic breeding strategy using large-scale recombinant populations and prediction models to rapidly develop rice cultivars with desired traits.

Multipartite coevolution shapes plant apoplastic immunity against rice blast fungus

The paper shows that GBP and thaumatin-domain proteins engage in coevolutionary dynamics in rice apoplast to defend against Magnaporthe oryzae.

Binding of a pathogen effector to rice Exo70 proteins tethered to the NOI/RIN4 integrated domain of the NLR receptor Pii2 confers immunity against fungi

The paper shows that the rice NLR-ID receptor Pii2 indirectly recognizes the fungal effector AVR-Pii by dissociating Pii2 from host Exo70 proteins, revealing a novel mechanism of pathogen recognition.

Rice blast resistance gene Pii is controlled by a pair of NBS-LRR genes Pii-1 and Pii-2

The paper identifies two NBS-LRR genes, Pii-1 and Pii-2, that together confer resistance to rice blast disease in rice.