中国农业大学徐明良小组的一项最新研究发现，ZmCPK39-ZmDi19-ZmPR10免疫模块调控玉米对多种叶面病害的定量抗性。2024年11月4日出版的《自然—遗传学》杂志发表了这项成果。

据介绍，灰斑病、北方叶枯病和南方叶枯病是影响玉米最具破坏性的三种叶面病害。

研究小组发现了一个基因ZmCPK39编码钙依赖性蛋白激酶，并负调控对这三种疾病的定量抗性。ZmCPK39等位基因在抗性品系中的表达量明显低于易感品系。ZmCPK39丰度的显著降低减轻了转录因子ZmDi19的磷酸化和降解。这导致ZmPR10（一种已知编码抗菌蛋白的基因）的表达升高，从而增强玉米对叶面疾病的抗性。

此外，降低ZmCPK39表达的F1杂种有利于抗病性，从而提高产量。因此，ZmCPK39-ZmDi19-ZmPR10免疫模块的发现，为揭示玉米叶片病害的广谱定量抗病机制提供了新的思路，也为玉米叶片病害的遗传控制提供了新的途径。

附：英文原文

Title: The ZmCPK39–ZmDi19–ZmPR10 immune module regulates quantitative resistance to multiple foliar diseases in maize

Author: Zhu, Mang, Zhong, Tao, Xu, Ling, Guo, Chenyu, Zhang, Xiaohui, Liu, Yulin, Zhang, Yan, Li, Yancong, Xie, Zhijian, Liu, Tingting, Jiang, Fuyan, Fan, Xingming, Balint-Kurti, Peter, Xu, Mingliang

Issue&Volume: 2024-11-04

Abstract: Gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight and southern leaf blight are three of the most destructive foliar diseases affecting maize (Zea mays L.). Here we identified a gene, ZmCPK39, that encodes a calcium-dependent protein kinase and negatively regulates quantitative resistance to these three diseases. The ZmCPK39 allele in the resistant line displayed significantly lower pathogen-induced gene expression than that in the susceptible line. A marked decrease in ZmCPK39 abundance mitigated the phosphorylation and degradation of the transcription factor ZmDi19. This led to elevated expression of ZmPR10, a gene known to encode an antimicrobial protein, thereby enhancing maize resistance to foliar diseases. Moreover, the F1 hybrid with reduced ZmCPK39 expression favored disease resistance, thereby increasing yield. Hence, the discovery of the ZmCPK39–ZmDi19–ZmPR10 immune module provides insight into the mechanisms underlying broad-spectrum quantitative disease resistance and also offers a new avenue for the genetic control of maize foliar diseases.

DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01968-4

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-024-01968-4