Ustilaginoidea virens secreted effector UvSec117 hijacks OsWRKY31‐OsAOC module to suppress jasmonic acid‐mediated immunity in rice.

This article explores the relationship between the fungus Ustilaginoidea virens and the WRKY transcription factor OsWRKY31 in rice plants. The researchers discovered that a specific protein, UvSec117, is a key factor in the virulence of U. virens and interacts with OsWRKY31. They also found that OsWRKY31 positively regulates rice's resistance to various diseases. Through further experiments, they identified the target genes of OsWRKY31, which are involved in induced systemic resistance and the salicylic acid/jasmonic acid signaling pathways. This research provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms of rice's resistance to grain-infecting pathogens and has implications for breeding disease-resistant rice varieties. [Extracted from the article]