Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 6, 2026

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea
07:14

The Plant Infection Test: Spray and Wound-Mediated Inoculation with the Plant Pathogen Magnaporthe Grisea

Published on: August 4, 2018

13.2K

Identification of MicroRNAs Involved in Different Layers of Rice-Magnaporthe oryzae Interaction

Sadam Hussain Bhutto1, Yong Zhu1, Hao Su1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.

Rice (New York, N.Y.)
|October 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies key rice microRNAs (miRNAs) regulating immunity against the destructive rice blast fungus. It reveals specific miRNAs that control pathogen-associated molecular patterns-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered susceptibility (ETS), and effector-triggered immunity (ETI).

Area of Science:

  • Plant Pathology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is a major threat to global rice production.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of plant immunity, but their specific roles in rice-M. oryzae interactions are not fully understood.
  • Understanding miRNA involvement in pathogen-associated molecular patterns-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered susceptibility (ETS), and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) is vital for developing resistant rice varieties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically identify and characterize miRNAs involved in the three distinct layers of rice-M. oryzae interaction: PTI, ETS, and ETI.
  • To elucidate the regulatory functions of specific miRNAs in modulating rice resistance and susceptibility to blast fungus.
  • To map a miRNA-mediated regulatory network governing rice immunity against M. oryzae.

Main Methods:

  • Small RNA sequencing was employed to profile miRNAs in rice during M. oryzae interaction.
  • Bioinformatic analysis was used to identify and classify miRNAs regulating PTI, ETS, and ETI.
  • Experimental validation confirmed the roles of selected miRNAs in the different immunity pathways.

Main Results:

  • A total of 441 miRNAs were identified, with 13, 30, and 14 classified as regulators of PTI, ETS, and ETI, respectively.
  • Specific miRNAs were found to positively or negatively regulate PTI, ETS, and ETI, including previously known and a novel miRNA (miR408-5p).
  • miR398b was identified as enhancing rice resistance by promoting PTI and ETI while suppressing ETS, while other miRNAs like miR397b and miR408-5p promoted susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct miRNAs play specific roles in modulating the three layers of rice immunity against M. oryzae.
  • A comprehensive miRNA-mediated regulatory network controlling rice-M. oryzae interactions has been elucidated.
  • These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant disease resistance and potential targets for crop improvement.
Keywords:
Magnaporthe oryzaeETIETSMiRNAsPTIRice blast diseaseSmall RNA-sequencing

More Related Videos

Visualizing Early Infection Sites of Rice Blast Disease Magnaporthe oryzae on Barley Hordeum vulgare Using a Basic Microscope and a Smartphone07:36

Visualizing Early Infection Sites of Rice Blast Disease Magnaporthe oryzae on Barley Hordeum vulgare Using a Basic Microscope and a Smartphone

Published on: March 17, 2023

2.1K
Genome-wide Analysis of Histone Modifications Distribution using the Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing Method in Magnaporthe oryzae09:25

Genome-wide Analysis of Histone Modifications Distribution using the Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing Method in Magnaporthe oryzae

Published on: June 2, 2021

3.3K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.7K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
23.8K
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
27.7K
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
7.2K