Loss-of-function and Gain-of-function Rice Mutants from Gamma-Ray Mutagenesis

Gamma-ray irradiation is known to induce various mutations in plants caused by chromosome alterations. This study investigated disease responses of selected gamma-ray induced rice mutants generated from seven Japonica-type rice cultivars against three plant diseases. Among the tested 22 mutants, three gain-of-function mutants and six loss-of-function mutants against rice blast were obtained, as well as three loss-of-function mutants against bacterial leaf blight (BLB). Two of the loss-of-function mutants were susceptible to both rice blast and BLB. Gain-of-function mutation has not been frequently observed in rice plants, thus, the mutants can be used to identify loci of novel genes for the regulation of disease resistant response.