AUTHOR=Li Xiaozun , Zhang Jian , Shangguan Xinxin , Yin Jingjing , Zhu Lili , Hu Jie , Du Bo , Lv Wentang 

TITLE=Knockout of OsWRKY71 impairs Bph15-mediated resistance against brown planthopper in rice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1260526

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1260526

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The <italic>Bph15</italic> gene, known for its ability to confer resistance to the brown planthopper (BPH; <italic>Nilaparvata lugens</italic> Stål), has been extensively employed in rice breeding. However, the molecular mechanism by which <italic>Bph15</italic> provides resistance against BPH in rice remains poorly understood. In this study, we reported that the transcription factor <italic>OsWRKY71</italic> was highly responsive to BPH infestation and exhibited early-induced expression in <italic>Bph15</italic>-NIL (near-isogenic line) plants, and OsWRKY71 was localized in the nucleus of rice protoplasts. The knockout of <italic>OsWRKY71</italic> in the <italic>Bph15</italic>-NIL background by CRISPR-Cas9 technology resulted in an impaired <italic>Bph15</italic>-mediated resistance against BPH. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the transcript profiles responsive to BPH differed between the <italic>wrky71</italic> mutant and <italic>Bph15</italic>-NIL, and the knockout of <italic>OsWRKY71</italic> altered the expression of defense genes. Subsequent quantitative RT-PCR analysis identified three genes, namely sesquiterpene synthase <italic>OsSTPS2</italic>, EXO70 family gene <italic>OsEXO70J1</italic>, and disease resistance gene <italic>RGA2</italic>, which might participate in BPH resistance conferred by <italic>OsWRKY71</italic> in <italic>Bph15</italic>-NIL plants. Our investigation demonstrated the pivotal involvement of <italic>OsWRKY71</italic> in <italic>Bph15</italic>-mediated resistance and provided new insights into the rice defense mechanisms against BPH.</p>