Fine-tuning ROS homeostasis by ROD1 is a battleground between rice and Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract

When plants recognize pathogens, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis is optimized to elicit immune responses. Pathogens also manipulate ROS homeostasis in host plants, which increases susceptibility to pathogens. A recent study found a novel regulation mechanism of ROS homeostasis through a rice susceptibility gene (ROD1) (Gao et al., 2021). The loss of function of ROD1 confers high resistance against three major rice pathogens but decreases yield, and an allele of ROD1 improves basal disease resistance without reducing yield.