An update on molecular mechanism of disease resistance genes and their application for genetic improvement of rice

Multiple pathogens cause rice various diseases affecting its yield and quality. Pyramiding resistance genes or quantitative traits loci into rice cultivars to enhance their resistance is an operable and optimal strategy for rice genetic improvement. New technologies and methods accelerate the identification and cloning of the resistance genes from landraces, domesticated and wild rice germplasm accessions. Some of these superior resistance genes have been successfully pyramided into diverse rice cultivars worldwide based on molecular marker-assisted selection. The underlying molecular mechanisms of some resistance genes have been uncovered which support their stacking into rice cultivars in a proper manner. The genetically improved rice lines show broad spectrum and durable resistance to different pathogens, which can greatly contribute to high yield and outstanding quality of rice cultivars. This paper summarizes the cloned major resistance genes, elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms, and proposes the operable strategies to use these genes for rice genetic improvement.