A head-to-head NLR gene pair from wild emmer confers stripe rust resistance in wheat

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02207-0?_refluxos=a10

Nature Genetics，09 June 2025

Yanling Hu,Miaomiao Li,Yuqin Li,Lilin Du,Ruijie Xie,Fei Ni,Chongjing Xia,Ke Wang,Yanyan Huang,Binyang Xu,Yinghui Li,Yunfeng Jiang,Ming Hao,Bo Jiang,Shunzong Ning,Zhongwei Yuan,Lihua Feng,Lianquan Zhang,Shisheng Chen,Bihua Wu,Zhiyong Liu,Tzion Fahima,Dengcai Liu&Lin Huang

Abstract

Wheat stripe rust poses a major threat to global food security. Discovery of disease resistance genes from wild relatives enables multigene stacking that could enhance durability. Here we use map-based cloning and long-read sequencing to isolate two adjacent nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors from wild emmer wheat. Using mutagenesis, gene silencing and genetic transformation, we show that the genesTdNLR1andTdNLR2oriented head-to-head are both required forYrTD121-mediated stripe rust resistance.TdNLR1encodes a canonical NLR (CC-NB-ARC-LRR) protein, whereasTdNLR2encodes an atypical one (NB-ARC-LRR). Both genes lack an integrated domain previously associated with effector perception, representing an uncommon architecture for paired NLRs in plants. The coiled coil domain ofTdNLR1triggers cell death and self-associates in planta.YrTD121was present in wild emmer but absent in all otherTriticumspecies examined. Our work sheds light on the function of paired NLRs in conferring disease resistance and facilitates breeding for resistance.