A Vaccine for Rice Plant

In News

Researchers have uncovered a vaccine to boost the immune system of rice.

In-Detail

  • Scientists from the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB), and Osmania University,Hyderabad have uncovered a vaccine to boost the immune system of rice.
  • Researchers identified the mechanism by which a bacterium called Xoo (Xanthomonas oryzaepv. Oryzae), which causes a serious bacterial leaf blight disease in rice, infects and causes disease in rice plant.
  • For developing the vaccine, the researchers have identified and developed few molecules which are derived from either Xoo bacterium or the infected rice cell walls.
  • They developed new disease control strategies and can use as vaccines that activate the rice immune system.
  • It also provides resistance to the plants from subsequent infections by Xoo.
  • Researchers carried out biochemical and functional studies on the plant cell wall degrading enzymes secreted by Xoo.
  • It has provided key insights into the mechanisms by which the Xoo pathogen interacts with the rice plant and causes the disease.
  • Xoo is one of the major disruptors of rice cultivation in the world leading to huge yield losses.
  • Researchers are working on a cellulose protein secreted by Xoo.
  • This protein has the features of a typical vaccine as it is a potent elicitor of rice immune responses.
  • Pre-treatment of a rice plant with this protein provides resistance to rice against Xoo.
  • When rice is treated with cellulase, a cell wall degrading enzyme secreted by Xoo will instigate immune response in the rice plant and it further protects the rice from subsequent infections of Xoo.
  • Researchers are exploring the rice cell wall degradation products and when the elicitor molecules are identified, will be used as a vaccine to activate the rice immune system.
  • The best way to control the disease so far was by introducing the Resistance ‘R’ which involves breeding and gene manipulation techniques.
  • This is time consuming, laborious and provides only rare specific resistance.
  • The elicitor molecule will have the potential to induce a broad spectrum resistance.
  • This will be strong against Xoo and other pathogens.
  • This study might lead to new ways of reducing yield losses for a crop.
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