近日，武汉大学储昭辉及其团队的最新研究探明了ZmFBL41突变体通过减弱ZmFAH降解和增加富马酸积累来增强玉米对茄枯核菌的抗性。该研究于2026年4月21日发表于国际一流学术期刊《遗传学报》杂志上。

该研究团队报道了表达易感单倍型ZmFBL41^B73的玉米对BLSB的抗性显著降低，以及ZmFBL41B73相互作用蛋白富马酰乙酸水解酶（FAH）的鉴定。与ZmCAD与LRR3基序相互作用不同，ZmFAH与ZmFBL41^B73的每个LRR基序相互作用。ZmFAH正调控植物对茄枯丝核菌的抗性，降低ZmFAH玉米对BLSB的抗性，提高ZmFAH过表达水稻对ShB的抗性。ZmFAH参与富马酸（FA）代谢，抑制真菌在植物中的生长和入侵。与ZmFBL41^B73的易感等位基因相比，抗性单倍型ZmFBL41^Chang7-2与ZmFAH的相互作用较弱，并促进了ZmFAH的降解，从而导致Chang7-2单倍型自交系FA积累量大于B73单倍型自交系，对BLSB的抗性增强。此外，田间富马酸预处理显著提高水稻对白叶枯病和ShB的抗性。总的来说，他们的发现揭示了ZmFBL41^Chang7-2的双重功能，除了之前发现的真菌感染期间木质素积累的物理屏障保护外，还可以通过FA积累加强宿主的化学屏障。

据了解，以ZmCAD和ZmNCED6为目标的F-box蛋白ZmFBL41增加了玉米带状叶鞘疫病（BLSB）的易感性。

附：英文原文

Title: ZmFBL41 variants enhance maize resistance to Rhizoctonia solani by attenuating ZmFAH degradation and increasing fumaric acid accumulation

Author: Haifeng Liu b, Zhaohui Chu a

Issue&Volume: 2026/04/21

Abstract: The F-box protein ZmFBL41, which targets ZmCAD and ZmNCED6, increases susceptibility to maize banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB). Here, we report significantly reduced BLSB resistance in maize expressing the susceptible haplotype ZmFBL41B73, and the identification of ZmFBL41B73-interacting protein, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH). In contrast to ZmCAD, which interacts with the LRR3 motif, ZmFAH interacts with each LRR motif of ZmFBL41B73. ZmFAH positively regulates plant resistance to Rhizoctonia solani and decrease BLSB resistance in zmfah maize but increase sheath blight (ShB) resistance in ZmFAH-overexpressing rice. ZmFAH is involved in fumaric acid (FA) metabolism, which inhibits fungal growth and invasion in plants. Compared with the susceptible allele of ZmFBL41B73, the resistant haplotype ZmFBL41Chang7-2, with two amino acid substitutions, exhibits weaker interactions with and promotes the degradation of ZmFAH, thereby resulting in greater FA accumulation and increased resistance to BLSB in the inbred lines of the Chang7-2 haplotype than in those of the B73 haplotype. Additionally, field fumarate pretreatment significantly increases rice resistance to bacterial blight and ShB. Collectively, our findings reveal the dual functions of ZmFBL41Chang7-2 in strengthening the host’s chemical barrier through FA accumulation in addition to the previously identified physical barrier protection through lignin accumulation during fungal infection.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2026.04.009

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1673852726001372