Identification and Characterization of WAKg Genes Involved in Rice Disease Resistance and Yield

The wall-associated kinases (WAKs) play a crucial role in rice resistance, but their relationship to yield-related traits remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the rice wall-associated kinase galacturonan-binding (WAKg) gene family and evaluated its association with both disease resistance and grain yield. A total of 108 OsWAKg genes were identified in rice. Promoter cis -element analysis revealed that the promoter regions of OsWAKg genes contain abundant resistance- and hormone-related elements. Induced expression analysis of 18 OsWAKg genes highly expressed in both rice leaves and roots showed that 14 genes were pathogen-induced, 9 were induced by development-related hormones, and 8 responded to both stimuli. Transgenic validation confirmed that OsWAKg16 and OsWAKg52 positively regulate rice disease resistance and yield. Moreover, OsWAKg52 regulates rice disease resistance through multiple pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) responses. These findings demonstrate that OsWAKgs significantly contribute to the coordinated regulation of disease resistance and grain yield, providing both new insights into rice WAK gene family studies and potential genetic resources for synergistic crop improvement.