侵染优质稻美香占2号的稻瘟病菌生理小种鉴定及无毒基因分析

为明确优质稻种美香占2号的抗瘟性,并为其合理布局以及与不同品种的轮换种植提供科学依据,利用7个中国鉴别品种和11个抗稻瘟病单基因系,对2013—2017年自广东省美香占2号品种上分离获得的50株稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae菌株进行生理小种鉴定和无毒基因型分析。结果显示,50株稻瘟病菌菌株被鉴定为11个生理小种,其中优势小种分别为C13、B13、B01、B05和C05;50株稻瘟病菌菌株对IRBLkh-K3(仅含Pik-h基因)、NIL-e1(仅含Pi50基因)、IRBL9-W(仅含Pi9基因)和IRBLzt-T(仅含Piz-t基因)4个抗稻瘟病单基因系表现出极低的毒性,频率分别为4%、6%、6%和8%;对IRBLz-Fu(仅含Piz基因)、IRBLkp-K60(仅含Pik-p基因)和IRBLi-F5(仅含Pii基因)3个抗稻瘟病单基因系表现出相对较高的毒性,频率分别为88%、86%和80%;自美香占2号以及其它4个主栽品种上获得的70株稻瘟病菌菌株被聚为不同类群;2003—2007年供试菌株中无毒基因AvrPi9、AvrPiz-t、AvrPi50和AvrPik-h的出现频率较高,无毒基因AvrPi1、AvrPita2、AvrPi2和AvrPish的出现频率中等,无毒基因AvrPii、AvrPik-p和AvrPiz的出现频率较低。     

水稻主要抗瘟基因对福建稻瘟菌群体的抗性分析

用1995～2003年间在福建省水稻产区采集的稻瘟菌代表菌系的108个分离菌,它们在CO39近等基因系上测定被划分为30个毒性类型,用它们在30个水稻抗稻瘟病近等基因系或单基因系品种上进行抗病性测定.结果表明水稻抗稻瘟病基因Pi-kh抗性最强,抗性频率高达98.15%,Pi-1和Pi-9(t)也具有较高的抗性频率,是较好的抗源;对2个和3个Pi基因的联合抗性频率的分析,发现一些联合抗性频率极高,甚至有达到100%的组合,表明抗瘟育种采用多个Pi基因聚合,易于获得抗性强的品种.根据抗病基因与供试菌株互作的亲和性,对供试30个Pi基因可能的系统关系分析得到的初步信息可为抗病基因的聚合与布局策略提供参考.     

二十二个抗稻瘟病基因在云南的利用价值评价

为了明确22个抗稻瘟菌基因在云南省的抗性水平及其利用价值,将采集、分离自云南省3个稻区的282个稻瘟病菌单孢菌株,接种于以丽江新团黑谷为轮回亲本培育而成的含有22个垂直抗性基因的水稻单基因系上.根据各稻区采集的菌株在水稻单基因系上的侵染率,分析出各垂直抗性基因在云南省各稻区的利用价值.持有Pi9、Piz5、Pi1、Pita2、Piz、Pikh、Pizt 7个垂直抗性基因的单基因系的侵染率分别为1.22%、2.40%、3.21%、4.82%、5.95%、7.23%、9.04%,可在籼稻区种植或作抗源使用;持有Pi9、Piz5、Pi1、Pita2、Piz、Pikh、Pizt、Pi12、Pita、Pib 10个垂直抗性基因的单基因系的侵染率分别为0.93%、 16.67%、10.19%、 5.09%、15.74%、15.74%、12.04%、9.26%、19.29%、11.11%,可在粳稻区种植或作抗源使用;持有Pi9、Piz5、Pi1、Pita2 4个垂直抗性基因的单基因系的侵染率分别为8.60%、13.83%、10.93%、18.04%,可在籼粳交错区种植或作抗源使用.同时用联合致病性系数和联合抗病性系数分析了病菌和单基因系的群体互作以及抗瘟组合的利用价值,结果表明:品种两两搭配后的RAC值大于0.80的组合有Pi9与Pita2、Pizt、Pi1、Piz,说明以上4种组合的抗病性最强,应用价值最大.     

已知抗瘟基因在黑龙江省寒地稻区的评价与利用

 利用12个日本鉴别品种、7个中国鉴别品种、24个抗稻瘟病单基因系及6个当地主栽品种,对2006年采自该省主要积温区不同水稻品种的178个稻瘟病菌株进行了致病性测定。结果表明：2006年黑龙江省稻瘟病菌生理小种划分为104个日本小种,077.7号生理小种比例最高为4.49%,017.1号、017.5号、037.5号生理小种出现频率为3.93%。就抗性基因而言,抗瘟基因Pi9(t)在全省抗谱为97.75%,是较好的抗源可以在全省内广泛利用;Piz-5、Pi12(t)抗瘟基因抗谱分别为78.09%和78.65%,根据品种种植区域可以有选择地利用。就品种而言,抗瘟基因Pi9(t)、Piz-5是空育131;Pi5(t)、Pita-2是垦稻10号;Pi9（t）、Pita是上育397;Piz-5、Pi12(t)是垦稻12号等品种抗瘟改良的有利基因;在研究中同时加强对稻瘟病菌种群的监测和新抗源的发掘,有针对性地向主栽品种导入新的抗性基因。     

PWL基因家族在黑龙江省水稻稻瘟病菌中的分布与变异

根据已公布的PWL家族基因序列设计4对特异性引物, 对329个采自2016年及2017年黑龙江省各稻区的水稻稻瘟病菌单孢菌株DNA进行PCR扩增与序列分析, 研究了水稻稻瘟病菌中PWL家族基因的组成及变异特征?结果显示, PWL2与PWL4在黑龙江省各稻区稻瘟菌中均有分布且稳定存在, 出现频率分别为73.86%与73.25%; PWL3出现频率为40.73%; PWL1在329个菌株DNA中均未扩增出目的条带, 再次验证了PWL1在水稻的稻瘟病菌中显示为完全缺失?对部分菌株的PCR产物进行测序分析发现, PWL2?PWL3和PWL4基因编码区在黑龙江省水稻稻瘟病菌株中的主要变异为点突变, 且引起氨基酸的突变?     

湖南桃江病圃稻瘟病菌对24个水稻抗稻瘟基因的毒性分析

稻瘟病是水稻生产上的重要病害,了解稻瘟病菌群体毒性组成是水稻抗病品种合理布局的重要基础。2012-2015年从湖南桃江病圃中不含已知抗瘟基因的水稻品种‘丽江新团黑谷’上成功分离出351个稻瘟病菌单孢菌株,在温室于水稻5叶期采用离体接种法测定了其对24个水稻抗稻瘟病单基因系的毒性,结果表明,病圃中稻瘟病菌以广谱强致病性的菌株为主,病菌对不同抗瘟基因的毒力频率在50.56%~96.67%之间,而不同年度间对24个抗性基因均具毒性的菌株出现频率在0~15%之间。对2015年的每2个抗瘟基因的联合毒力分析表明,基因两两搭配后的联合抗病系数最高、联合致病系数最低的组合是Pi-3*Pi-k(RAC=0.19,PAC=0.43)。     

福建省稻瘟病菌致病性及其无毒基因分析

利用41个已知抗性基因水稻品种测定2003—2006年从福建省闽东、闽南、闽西、闽北和闽中5个主要稻区采集分离的87个稻瘟病单孢菌株的致病性。结果表明,福建省稻瘟病菌群体含有与所有测试抗病基因相应的无毒基因,其中66.67%的稻瘟病菌株表现较强致病力。病菌群体对水稻抗病基因Pi-d2、Pi-k(1)、Pi-km、Pi-kh、Pi-1(1)、Pi-z5(1)、Pi-z5(2)和Pi-1(2)的毒力频率均低于10%,提示这些抗病基因在福建省可作抗源使用。2003—2006年福建省稻瘟病菌群体中分别出现了40、37、36和38个无毒基因,其中有34个无毒基因在各年份均有分布,有30个无毒基因在5个主要稻区均有分布,Avr-a(2)、Avr-3(2)、Avr-ks、Avr-4b、Avr-b、Avr-kp(C)、Avr-km(C)、Avr-ta(C)、Avr-11(C)、Avr-19(t)、Avr-t和Avr-a(1)无毒基因的出现频率均低于30%,提示与之相对应的抗病基因在福建省水稻品种抗稻瘟病育种中应慎用。含有17、14、23、18和16个无毒基因组合的病菌较多,其组合频率分别为13.79%、10.34%、9.20%、8.05%和8.05%。     

黑龙江省稻瘟病菌育性及其交配型分析

为明确黑龙江省采集自不同年份、不同地区的稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae的育性能力和交配型分布,采用2株标准菌株GUY11(MAT1-2)和KA3(MAT1-1)对2016—2017年黑龙江省西部、东部、中部3个地区经单孢分离的241株稻瘟病菌进行育性测定,并利用PCR技术对其交配型进行检测。结果表明,黑龙江省西部、东部、中部的241株稻瘟病菌中可育性菌株比例为11.62%,其中雌性菌株、雄性菌株、两性菌株分别占1.66%、4.56%和1.25%,不能判断其性别的未知菌株占4.15%。采集自不同地区、不同年份的稻瘟病菌可育性差异均较大,西部、东部、中部地区可育性菌株出现频率分别为13.25%、7.27%和12.62%;2016年采集的稻瘟病菌可育性较高,可育性菌株出现频率为25.30%。黑龙江省稻瘟病菌群体中同时存在MAT1-1和MAT1-2两种交配型,主要以交配型MAT1-1占优势,出现频率为58.92%,交配型为MAT1-2的菌株出现频率为8.30%。不同地区稻瘟病菌的交配型亦有差异,交配型为MAT1-1的菌株在黑龙江省东部地区出现频率最高,为72.73%,在中部、西部地区的出现频率次之,分别为61.17%和46.99%。表明黑龙江省水稻种植区的稻瘟病菌同时存在2种交配型菌株,其交配型存在丰富的多态性,但其可育性及交配型分布不均衡。     

水直播条件下黑龙江省不同稻区稻瘟病菌致病性分析

为明确水直播条件下黑龙江省不同稻区稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae的致病性分化情况，以24个抗瘟单基因系品种为寄主，来源于2017—2018年黑龙江省水直播稻田的242株稻瘟病菌菌株为接种体，采用离体划伤方法接种，记录病斑反应型，计算有效致病菌株率和抗性频率，并进行聚类分析。结果显示，在水直播条件下，2017年，黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株对抗瘟单基因系品种的有效致病菌株率介于8.33%~95.83%和20.83%~95.83%之间，无毒基因出现频率分别为575次和622次；2018年，南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株对鉴别体系的有效致病菌株率介于29.17%~95.83%和20.83%~91.67%之间，无毒基因出现频率分别为536次和571次。2017年，黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株的致病性相似系数介于0.15~1.00和0.14~1.00之间，以致病性相似系数0.40为阈值，可将菌株分别划分为5个类群和6个类群；2018年，南部和中东部稻区菌株的致病性相似系数介于0.15~0.93和0.26~1.00之间，以致病性相似系数0.40为阈值，可将菌株分别划分为5个类群和4个类群。2017年，抗瘟单基因系品种对黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株的抗性频率介于11.29%~88.71%和10.77%~86.15%之间，其中抗瘟单基因系品种IRBL9-W（Pi-9）和IRBLz5-CA（Pi-z5）抗性表现最好；2018年，抗瘟单基因系品种对南部和中东部稻区菌株的抗性频率介于10.34%~82.67%和15.79%~85.96%之间，其中抗瘟单基因系品种IRBL9-W（Pi-9）和IRBLz5-CA（Pi-z5）抗性表现最好。表明水直播条件下黑龙江省稻瘟病菌致病性分化剧烈，稻瘟病菌整体致病力较强，但仍有部分水稻种质抗性较好且相对稳定，基因聚合后抗性会得到进一步提升。     

云南罗平田间稻瘟菌株性状及无毒基因研究

 稻瘟菌和水稻是研究禾本科作物病原-寄主互作机制的模式病理系统。云南罗平县不仅是云南省水稻主产区,栽培水稻品种多样,同时也是稻瘟病易发区,田间稻瘟菌群体组成复杂,信息流强度大。田间单孢菌株的分离和无毒基因的研究,是揭示稻瘟菌毒性变异机制和制定田间稻瘟病综合防控策略的重要基础。本研究通过单孢分离,从2017年云南罗平田间病样上分离和保存了有效单孢菌株120份,系统地进行了菌株培养性状、产孢能力、7个无毒基因存在/缺失多态性及无毒基因变异与致病性相关性的研究。研究结果表明:菌株间培养性状、产孢能力差异较大,但培养性状和产孢能力与菌株的病样源无关;ACE1、Avr-Pizt、Avr-Pita1、Pwl2、Avr-Pik、Avr-Pii和Avr-Pia 7个无毒基因在云南罗平120个田间菌株中的存在/缺失频率不同,ACE1、Pwl2和Avr-Pizt存在频率最高(100%),Avr-Pia最低(5%),Avr-Pita1、Avr-Pik和Avr-Pii分别是99%、99%和89%,并首次分离和鉴定了33个包含3个Avr-Pik等位基因拷贝的菌株;部分代表菌株接种单基因系水稻的致病性鉴定结果显示,菌株中无毒基因的完全缺失或变异能使携带相应抗病基因的单基因系水稻材料感病,表明病原通过丢弃或修饰其无毒基因逃避寄主的免疫识别,克服寄主的抗性。研究结果不仅丰富了稻瘟病菌的遗传资源,奠定了水稻-稻瘟菌互作机制研究的重要基础,而且也为云南罗平稻瘟病的综合防治提供了参考。     

黑龙江省水稻种质抗瘟性及稻瘟病菌致病性分析

为明确黑龙江省水稻种质抗性及稻瘟病菌的致病性,以黑龙江省8个水稻品种、24个单基因系作为供试材料,120株稻瘟病菌株作为接种体,采用喷雾接种法测定了各供试水稻的抗瘟性及稻瘟病菌的致病性。结果表明,水稻品种对2010年和2011年菌株的抗性频率分别在31.67%~68.33%和21.67%~55.00%之间,2010年最好的抗性品种为松粳12,2011年最好的抗性品种为五优稻4和东农425;松粳12东农425组合联合抗病性最好。水稻单基因系对2010年和2011年菌株的抗性频率分别在10.00%~90.00%和5.00%~86.67%之间,抗性最好的单基因系分别为IRBLzt-T(Pi-zt)和IRBLz5-CA(Pi-z5);松粳12、东农425和龙粳22的基因聚合效果最好。2010年和2011年菌株对抗瘟基因群的致病率分别在8.33%~95.83%和25.00%~95.83%之间;无毒基因总出现频率分别为461和412次。研究表明,水稻种质抗性受菌株致病性影响较大,但高抗种质相对稳定,基因聚合方式更适宜当地品种抗性改良。     

云南省水稻稻瘟病菌无毒基因AVR-Pia变异及水稻抗性基因Pia的有效性

为进一步了解田间稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae群体中AVR-Pia基因的分布及变异,利用水稻单基因系IRBLa-C水稻品种对自云南省13个市(州)采集分离得到的471株稻瘟病菌菌株进行抗性基因Pia有效性测定;利用无毒基因AVR-Pia特异性标记对471株稻瘟病菌菌株进行PCR检测和测序,并分析稻瘟病菌群体中无毒基因AVR-Pia的分布及DNA结构变异;利用有效性结果和PCR检测结果对471株菌株进行反应型划分,筛选鉴定菌株;利用鉴定菌株对云南省112份地方稻种进行Pia基因鉴定。结果表明,在471株稻瘟病菌菌株中,对含有Pia基因的水稻单基因系IRBLa-C表现为抗病和感病的菌株数分别为139株和332株,所占比例分别为29.5%和70.5%;在471株稻瘟病菌菌株中,分别有244株和227株菌株含有无毒基因AVR-Pia和不含有无毒基因AVR-Pia,所占比例分别为51.8%和48.2%,无毒基因AVR-Pia主要为完全缺失变异;在471株稻瘟病菌菌株中,A-和V+反应型菌株数分别为56株和161株,共217株,占总菌株数的46.1%,在13个市(州)稻瘟病菌群体中,A-和V+反应型菌株所占比例差异较大,其中在普洱市、红河哈尼族彝族自治州、昭通市、玉溪市4个市(州)的比例较大,分别为77.8%、57.1%、52.1%和50.0%;在112份云南省地方稻种质资源中,有20份地方稻品种含有抗性基因Pia,主要分布在9个市(州)中。表明云南省13个市(州)绝大部分水稻产区水稻Pia基因已丧抗性,含Pia基因的水稻种质在云南省分布较广。     

Pathogenicity and population structure analysis of Pyricularia oryzae in different districts of Jiangsu province,China

Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive rice diseases worldwide. In this study, 224 isolates were isolated from neck blast samples from nine districts in Jiangsu. We analysed the resistance frequency of 24 resistance (R) genes using 32 monogenic rice lines from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), including Pii, Pik-h, Pi5, Piz-5, and Piz, which exhibit high resistance frequencies. PAC (pathogenicity association coefficients) and VAC (virulence association coefficients) analyses identified three combinations of R genes, Piz/Pii, Piz/Piz-5, and Piz/Pi5, as being suitable for use in Jiangsu. Mating-type analysis of P. oryzae isolates indicated that sexual reproduction occurred less frequently in northern Jiangsu than in other areas, which may affect genetic diversity and dissemination. Pot2-TIR analysis indicated that the genetic diversity of P. oryzae in Xuzhou was mainly due to the insertion of transposable elements, while that of Nanjing was due to both the insertion of transposable elements and sexual recombination. Therefore, some R genes or gene combinations were suitable for resistance breeding in Jiangsu, and repetitive-PCR (rep-PCR) is a cost-effective tool for genetically differentiating distinct cultivar-specific populations or lineages with well-defined virulence patterns, because of the close correspondence between rep-PCR based clusters and pathotypes of inbred lines.     

Genetic variation of avirulence genes (AVR-Pi9, AVR-Pik,AVR-Pita1) and genetic diversity of rice blast fungus,Pyricularia oryzae,in Thailand

Genetic variation of the rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) population in Thailand was investigated based on the nucleotide sequence of three avirulence genes, AVR-Pi9, AVR-Pik, and AVR-Pita1. Sixty rice blast isolates were collected from rice-growing areas around Thailand. Gene-specific primers were used to amplify these AVR genes and AVR-Pi9, AVR-Pik, and AVR-Pita1 were detected in 60, 57, and 23 isolates, respectively. Based on the AVR-Pi9 sequences, we identified one rice blast isolate containing an amino acid change from glutamic acid to aspartic acid. Moreover, two rice blast isolates had identical sequences to the rice blast strain originating in Japan, indicating a potential movement of this isolate from Japan to Thailand. Three AVR-Pik alleles were found, including AVR-PikA (3.51%), AVR-PikD (71.93%), and isolates with two copies of AVR-PikD and AVR-PikF (24.56%). AVR-PikA and AVR-PikF are virulent to Thai rice variety Jao Hom Nin. Six haplotypes of AVR-Pita1 were identified with one deletion and 12 amino acid substitutions. This study revealed that different AVR genes in Thai rice blast populations have different levels of genetic variation: AVR-Pi9 and AVR-Pik genes have a relatively low genetic diversity, while the AVR-Pita1 gene has high genetic diversity. We found AVR-Pi9 was not under selection pressure, while AVR-Pita1 was under purifying selection pressure. In addition, geographic location has influenced the distribution of genetic variation of AVR-Pita1. The information obtained from this study is valuable for the future development of breeding strategies for rice blast resistance in Thailand.     

Population structure,genetic diversity,and sexual state of the rice brown spot pathogen Bipolaris oryzae from three Asian countries

Bipolaris oryzae causes brown spot in rice (Oryza sativa) inflicting substantial grain yield losses worldwide. Knowledge of the population structure, genetic diversity and sexual recombination of the fungal pathogen can help to implement effective disease management strategies. In this study, B. oryzae isolates sampled from Iran, the Philippines and Japan were analysed with 12 simple‐sequence repeat (SSR) markers, newly developed from the genome sequence of the fungus. Among the 288 B. oryzae isolates genotyped, 278 unique haplotypes were identified. High genotype numbers (richness) with even distribution (evenness) were found within the collection sites. Both mating types, MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2, were present in each collection area, and the sexual state was induced under controlled conditions with production of viable ascospores. However, the tests of linkage disequilibrium rejected of the hypothesis of random mating. Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) revealed that the B. oryzae collection formed three clusters, each consisting of isolates from different collection sites. Analysis of molecular variance (amova ) showed that genetic variation among clusters was 18.7%, with the rest of the variation distributed within clusters (R_ST = 0.187, P < 0.001). Statistically significant pairwise genetic differentiation was found between the clusters. These results show that Asian B. oryzae isolates are genetically diverse, and, overall, distributed in three groups. These findings will be helpful in managing the disease and guide the use of representative isolates needed for selection of resistant rice varieties.     

Management of rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae): implications of alternative hosts

Rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) has become a serious disease on commercial rice (Oryza sativa) crops in northern Australia and is present there on wild rice (O. australiensis). Characterisation of the host range of P. oryzae is fundamental to both reducing disease spread and to preventing development of epidemics via better management of Poaceae inoculum reservoirs in Australia. Studies on response of three different wild O. australiensis sources toward four isolates of P. oryzae showed all genotypes very susceptible to three isolates [WAC13466 (race IA-1), BRIP53376 (race IB-3), NT2014a (race unknown)], but resistant to isolate BRIP39772 (race IA-3). Studies to investigate levels of blast disease development following inoculation on a range of Poaceae hosts showed both P. oryzae isolates (WAC13466, BRIP53376) were highly virulent on barley (disease index, DI?=?100%), and on Phalaris and O. australiensis (DI?=?70%). However, isolate BRIP53376 showed a significantly higher level of aggressiveness (DI ~80%) on ryegrass, wild oat and rice. Of the two wheat cultivars tested, only one cultivar showed disease and only from WAC13466 (DI ~30%). Sweet corn and goosegrass were also susceptible to both blast isolates, but DI was <50%. That P. oryzae was virulent across these diverse Poaceae hosts, highlights, for Australia, the possibility for these species in, first, harbouring P. oryzae isolates highly virulent to commercial rice, second, fostering spread of rice-attacking P. oryzae strains into regions currently free of rice blast, and third, potential for these alternative host species to encourage development of more virulent host-specific strains of P. oryzae. The current study is an important step towards facilitating improved crop protection in the medium and long term from reducing P. oryzae disease epidemics via a better understanding and management of inoculum reservoirs in Australia.

     

Generation and characterisation of Tn5-tagged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis> mutants that overcome <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xa23</Emphasis>-mediated resistance to bacterial blight of rice

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae causes bacterial blight of rice. Xa23, a bacterial blight resistance gene identified originally in wild rice, Oryza rufipogon, is dominant and resistant to all X. oryzae pv. oryzae field isolates tested. The corresponding avirulence gene avrXa23 is unknown. Here we report the generation of a random insertion mutant library of X. oryzae pv. oryzae strain PXO99 using a Tn5-derived transposon tagging system, and identification of mutant strains that are virulent on CBB23, a near-isogenic rice line containing Xa23. A total of 24,192 Tn5 inserted clones was screened on CBB23 by leaf-cutting inoculation and at least eight of them caused lesions on CBB23 comparable to those on JG30, the susceptible recurrent parent of CBB23. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis showed that all the eight mutants, designated as P99M1, P99M2, P99M3, P99M4, P99M5, P99M6, P99M7 and P99M8, have a single Tn5-insertion in their genomes. The flanking DNA sequences of the Tn5-insertion sites were isolated by PCR-walking and sequenced. Bioinformatic analysis of the flanking sequences, by aligning them with the whole genome sequences of X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains PXO99, KACC10331 and MAFF311018 through NCBI, revealed that the Tn5-insertions disrupted genes that encode TAL effector AvrBs3/PthA, ISXo1 transposase, Type II secretion system protein-like protein or outer membrane protein, glycogen synthase, cytochrome C5 and conserved hypothetical protein. Further identification of these mutants will facilitate the molecular cloning of avirulence gene avrXa23. The authors C.-L. Wang, A.-B. Xu contributed equally to this work; Y. Gao and Y.-L. Fan contributed equally to this work.