Enhancing plant broad-spectrum resistance through engineered pattern recognition receptors

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract Conventional plant resistance breeding has primarily focused on intracellular immune receptors, while cell-surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) have been underexplored due to their comparatively modest contributions to resistance. However, PRRs offer significant untapped potential for crop improvement. In this study, we demonstrate that the Arabidopsis receptor-like protein RLP23, which recognizes molecular patterns from three distinct microbial kingdoms, confers broad-spectrum resistance when introduced into the Solanaceae crop tomato. We also identify the intracellular (IC) domain of RLP23 as crucial for ensuring compatibility and efficacy during heterologous expression. Targeted engineering of the IC domain significantly enhances RLP23 potential utility, enabling transfer of robust resistance against bacterial, fungal, and oomycete pathogens to other plants without compromising yield. We extended this RLP engineering strategy to rice and poplar, highlighting its broad applicability. These findings establish a versatile framework for PRR-based engineering, opening new avenues for sustainable crop protection.

Authors 5

1. Yuankun Yang Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden

   Leiden University · University of Tübingen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plant Biochemistry, Center of Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

   Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Christina E. Steidele

   Technical University of Munich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Phytopathology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany

3. Lili Huang

   Northwest A&F University

   Affiliation as printed

   State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China

4. Pingtao Ding Aachen Institute of Biology Leiden

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Andrea A. Gust corresponding

   University of Tübingen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plant Biochemistry, Center of Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany