TaRPP13‐3, a CC‐NBS‐LRR‐like gene located on chr 7D, promotes disease resistance to wheat powdery mildew in Brock

Abstract Disease resistance (R) gene, RPP13, plays an important role in the resistance of plants to pathogen infections; its function in resistance of wheat to powdery mildew remains unknown. In this study, a RNA‐Seq technique was used to monitor expression of genes in susceptible wheat ‘Jing411’ and resistant near‐isogenic line ‘BJ‐1’ in response to powdery mildew infection. Overall, 413 differential expression genes were observed and identified as involved in disease resistance. RPP13 homologous gene on wheat chromosome 7D was preliminarily identified using the wheat 660K SNP chip. RPP13 was highly expressed in ‘BJ‐1’ and encodes 1,027 amino acids, including CC, NB and LRR domain, termed TaRPP13‐3. After inoculation with powdery mildew, expression of TaRPP13‐3 in resistant wheat changed with time, but average expression was higher when compared to susceptible variety, thus indicating that TaRPP13‐3 is involved in resistance to powdery mildew. Virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) was used to inhibit expression of TaRPP13‐3 in resistant parent ‘Brock’. Results indicated that silencing of TaRPP13‐3 led to decreased disease resistance in ‘Brock’. Overall results of this study indicate that TaRPP13‐3 gene is involved in the defence response of wheat to powdery mildew and plays a positive role in wheat powdery mildew interactions.