Biotech Updates

ARS Scientists Investigate Rice Blast Resistance

October 21, 2011

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers of the USDA have determined the molecular mechanisms involved in the plant's ability to resist rice blast, a fungal disease affecting rice, wheat, rye, and barley found in 85 countries worldwide. This pest could cause losses of up to 30 percent. Aside from studying how the molecular mechanisms work, Yulin Jia and colleagues also studied how resistance genes evolved. They mapped the two major blast resistance genes in rice. Results of the study have been published in journals Euphytica, Plant Science, and Phytopathology.

Read USDA's news release at http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261.