Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa) is both a vital source of food and a key model cereal for genomic research. Insect pests are major factors constraining rice production. Here, we provide an overview of recent progress in functional genomics research and the genetic improvements of insect resistance in rice. To date, many insect resistance genes have been identified in rice, and 14 such genes have been cloned via a map-based cloning approach. The proteins encoded by these genes perceive the effectors of insect and activate the defense pathways, including the expression of defense-related genes, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, plant hormone, and transcription factors; and defense mechanism against insects, including callose deposition, trypsin proteinase inhibitors (TryPIs), secondary metabolites, and green leaf volatiles (GLVs). These ongoing functional genomic studies provide insights into the molecular basis of rice–insect interactions and facilitate the development of novel insect-resistant rice varieties, improving long-term control of insect pests in this crucial crop.
Highlights
Insect pests pose severe constraints to agriculture and threaten food security worldwide (Oerke 2006)
In China, the total area of rice infested by brown planthopper (BPH) was estimated at over 25 million hectares, resulting in a rice production loss of 2.7 million tons between 2005 and 2008 (Qiu et al 2012; Hu et al 2016a)
This review addresses research advances underpinning strategies to improve the resistance of rice to insect pests
Summary
Insect pests pose severe constraints to agriculture and threaten food security worldwide (Oerke 2006). Insect infestations are especially severe in rice, which grows in warm, humid environments. Rice plants provide an attractive and nutritious food source for many phytophagous insects. Insects feed on all parts of a rice plant during all stages of growth. Herbivorous insects have various feeding modes, but most of these insects can be classified into two groups: chewing insects and piercingand-sucking insects. Chewing insects, such as stem borers and leaf folders, have mouthparts that break off and ingest plant tissues, causing substantial mechanical damage. Insects with piercing-and-sucking feeding habits, including planthoppers and leafhoppers, have sharp, elongated mouthparts that penetrate plant cells and suck up nutrients from vascular tissues. Planthoppers and leafhoppers are important vectors of plant disease agents, causing indirect damage to plants (Fujita et al 2013)
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