EURICE: project presentation

Introduction
Fungal diseases are a major source of damage for rice crop worldwide. Rice blast and stem rot caused by Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia oryzae anamorph) and Magnaporthe salvinii (Sclerotium oryzae anamorph) are the most widespread and damaging pathogens in Europe. Breeding for resistance to pathogens faces the problem of breakdown of resistance within a few seasons of cultivation of newly released varieties due to pathogen variability. Creating varieties with improved and durable level of resistance to blast and stem rot is thus an important goal that has not been achieved by classical breeding methods. The two pathogens have different pathogenicity and biological characteristics and thus are suited to studying different mechanisms of resistance. The creation of genotypes engineered with pathogen defence genes, capable of protecting the plant against fungal invasion, represents a promising tool for overcoming the necessity of spreading chemical fungicides into the environment.

General aim and workplan
The general aim of the project is to improve and evaluate the use of potential anti-fungal genes in controlling rice blast disease and stem rots in Europe where they represent the most important and widespread diseases. This approach aims to improve our knowledge on the use of resistance genes to tailor new rice cultivars enhanced in resistance, for stable and reliable use of transgene technology in wider programmes for rice crop protection. For this purpose the project considers three potential antifungal genes of different origin: the maize b32 gene, encoding a RIP, a small anti-fungal protein (AFP) from Aspergillus giganteous, and a synthetic cecropin-A derived insect gene. The workplan of the project includes four research areas: A. Genes, promoters and vectors; B. Production and molecular characterisation of transgenic plants; C. Phytopathological assays; D. Assessment of GM-rice in the field.

Project structure and scientific objectives 
1. Verify rice protection against fungal diseases caused by Magnaporthe using fungal disease resistance genes expressed at high levels in the plant: use of a strong constitutive promoter for monocots. 2. Verify the possibility of modulating defence gene expression in order to reduce the molecular impact on the plant: identification of suitable inducible promoters. 3. Evaluate the possibility of containment of gene flow through pollen dispersal by chloroplast targeting of defence genes and comparison of the resistance against nuclear transformed counterpart. 4. Investigate the possibility of using the gene pyramiding strategy in order to express synergistically two defence genes acting against the pathogen in two different ways: double transformation with combination of genes. 5. Develop molecular, biochemical and histological tools for a rapid monitoring and evaluation of resistance in rice and GM rice against the pathogens (bioassays). 6. Assess the risk of gene flow between GM rice and spontaneous red rice in the field. 7. Provide seed bank of the best GM rice obtained and characterised for its use in breeding programmes and eventual commercialisation.