Natural variation of CTS1 confers cold tolerance and blast resistance in rice.
Ye W, Ma W, Li Y, Guo Z, Gao S
Climate Adaptation
Rice feeds half the world, and the gene variants discovered here could help farmers in cold, disease-prone regions grow reliable harvests without adding more pesticides or heating infrastructure.
Researchers found a single gene in rice that acts like a Swiss Army knife against stress — it helps seedlings survive cold temperatures by keeping their cell membranes stable, and it also ramps up the plant's immune response when a dangerous fungus attacks. Different natural versions of this gene exist across rice varieties, and one version is better at cold tolerance while still fighting disease. This means plant breeders can now deliberately select for the right version when developing new rice varieties that need to handle both chilly springs and fungal outbreaks.
Key Findings
CTS1 (encoding the transcription factor OsWRKY74) was identified via genome-wide association study as a negative regulator of cold tolerance at the rice seedling stage.
The natural allele CTS1Hap1 confers greater cold tolerance than CTS1Hap2 by mildly suppressing CTB2 expression, which maintains sterol glycoside balance and membrane stability in cold conditions.
During fungal infection by Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast), CTS1 activates OsHSP90 and upregulates pathogenesis-related genes, boosting blast resistance through the same regulatory gene.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered a gene in rice called CTS1 that does two jobs at once: it helps young rice plants survive cold snaps and also fights off a devastating fungal disease called rice blast. Different natural versions of this gene offer different levels of protection, giving breeders a ready-made tool to grow more resilient rice.
Abstract Preview
Improving multistress resilience in crops is essential for sustainable agriculture, yet the genetic mechanisms coordinating abiotic and biotic stress responses remain poorly understood. This study ...
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