Paired NLRs originated from Triticum dicoccoides coordinately confer resistance to powdery mildew in wheat

作者：Huaizhi Zhang, Miaomiao Li, Gaojie Wang, Keyu Zhu, Guanghao Guo, H. Y. Fu, Chenchen Hu, Zhiying Chu, Jinghuang Hu, Qiuhong Wu, Yongxing Chen, Dan Qiu, Jingzhong Xie, Delin Li, Beibei Li, Wenling Li, Lei Dong, Lei Dong, Yikun Hou, Xuejia Cui, Baoge Huang, Yiwen Li, Yiwen Li, Hongjie Li, Chengguo Yuan, Lingli Dong, Lingli Dong, Zhiyong Liu, Ping Lu · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-025-64049-y · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Plant pathogens and resistance mechanisms、Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies、Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity

Wheat has evolved diverse resistance genes against powdery mildew, typically controlled by single-gene-encoded proteins. Here, we report the map-based cloning of PmWR183, a resistance locus encoding two adjacent NLR proteins (PmWR183-NLR1 and PmWR183-NLR2) from wild emmer wheat. Stable transformation and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout experiments demonstrate that the two NLRs function cooperatively: neither gene alone confers resistance, but their co-expression restores immunity, while disruption of either gene abolishes resistance. PmWR183 mediates a developmental stage-dependent response, with susceptibility at the seedling stage and strong resistance at the adult stage. Protein interaction assays reveal constitutive association of PmWR183-NLR1 and PmWR183-NLR2, supporting their cooperative role. Geographical and haplotype analyses show the locus originates from wild emmer and is rare in cultivated wheat, exhibiting at least nine haplotypes. Together, our findings uncover a rare NLR gene pair conferring effective resistance to powdery mildew, providing valuable resources for wheat breeding. Wheat powdery mildew resistance is typically controlled by single-gene-encoded resistance protein. Here, the authors report the cloning of powdery mildew resistance locus PmWR183 and show that it encodes two adjacent nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat proteins originated from wild emmer wheat.