A novel rice aspartic protease gene OsAP79 is involved in BPH resistance
through regulation of increasing shoot sclerenchyma layer thickness
Abstract
Every year, rice planthoppers (main brown planthopper, BPH,
Nilaparvata lugens Stål), one of the most important pests in rice
production, cause huge yield losses worldwide. The identification of
resistance genes and exploration of insect resistance mechanisms are
some of the most fundamental and effective methods to manage the pest.
Here, the aspartic protease (AP) gene OsAP79 was
transcriptionally expressed in all organs tested, particularly in the
roots at the adult stage. The knockout of OsAP79 impaired rice
resistance to BPH, whereas overexpression (OE) of OsAP79 improved
rice resistance by increasing plant survival rates, and reducing BPH
weight gain and honeydew excretion. Observation of the transverse
section of rice shoots indicated that OE lines of OsAP79 can
significantly enhance sclerenchyma layer thickness. Meanwhile, a
significantly longer or shorter root was detected in the knockout or OE
lines, respectively, which was positively correlated with the indole
acetic acid (IAA) content. Hormone measurement and metabolomic analysis
suggested that IAA biosynthesis, the citric acid cycle, and glycolysis
biosynthesis contributed greatly the OsAP79-induced resistance of
rice against BPH. Collectively, OsAP79 was continuously induced
to express and enhance BPH resistance by reducing the IAA content, which
restricts root growth and increases shoot sclerenchyma layer thickness.
This study demonstrates the previously unappreciated importance of the
AP gene in rice for combating piercing-sucking insect herbivores.