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Two complementary NLRs from wild emmer wheat confer powdery mildew resistance

Author

Listed:
  • Zuhuan Yang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Nannan Liu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Xiaoming Xie

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Wenxin Wei

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Yuhan Bai

    (Capital Normal University)

  • Junna Sun

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Wei Pan

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jiatian Yang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Weidong Wang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Xiaodong Xie

    (Tianjin Agricultural University)

  • Muhammad Saqlain

    (Sichuan Agricultural University)

  • Houyang Kang

    (Sichuan Agricultural University
    Sichuan Agricultural University)

  • Baoyun Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Zhaorong Hu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jinying Gou

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Weilong Guo

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Susheng Song

    (Capital Normal University)

  • Jun Ma

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Tzion Fahima
  • Qixin Sun

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Lina Qiu

    (Tianjin Agricultural University)

  • Yinghui Li

    (Sichuan Agricultural University)

  • Chaojie Xie

    (China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Powdery mildew is a devastating disease that affects wheat yield and quality globally. Here, we identify a powdery mildew resistance locus MlIW39 from wild emmer wheat through map-based cloning, mutagenesis, and stable genetic transformation. Unlike many other cloned Pm genes, the MlIW39-mediated resistance is conferred by the combined effect of two complementary nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) genes, encoding a canonical coiled-coil (CC) type NLR protein (MlIW39-R1) and an atypical NLR protein (MlIW39-R2) with an unknown domain (CC-like), respectively. Overexpression of the NLR pair induces cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, whereas MlIW39-R1 or MlIW39-R2 alone does not. The MlIW39-R1 and MlIW39-R2 proteins physically interact with each other. MlIW39-R1 and MlIW39-R2 likely originate independently and become neighborly located during evolution. Our findings shed light on the significance of NLR pairs in plant immunity and can facilitate wheat disease-resistance breeding using the developed MlIW39 introgression lines and functional marker.

Suggested Citation

  • Zuhuan Yang & Nannan Liu & Xiaoming Xie & Wenxin Wei & Yuhan Bai & Junna Sun & Wei Pan & Jiatian Yang & Weidong Wang & Xiaodong Xie & Muhammad Saqlain & Houyang Kang & Baoyun Li & Zhaorong Hu & Jinyin, 2025. "Two complementary NLRs from wild emmer wheat confer powdery mildew resistance," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64052-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64052-3
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