Natural and Nature-Inspired\nCatechol Siderophores:\nA Promising Strategy for Rice Blast Management

The\nrice-blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae poses a significant threat to rice production worldwide. Ferroptosis,\nan iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, has recently been\nreported to be involved in P. oryzae pathogenicity during plant-fungal interactions. Ferroptosis regulates\nthe developmental cell death of conidia necessary for appressorium\nmaturation. In this study, we have established that a series of benzamides\ncontaining a chelating catechol moiety suppresses the formation/maturation\nof appressoria, which are essential for host infection by the rice\nblast fungus. Moreover, for the most active compounds we have shown\nthat their activity can be at least partially reversed by adding exogenous\nFe<sup>3+</sup>. These results highlight the close association between\niron availability and appressorium maturation, opening new avenues\nfor the development of targeted strategies for P. oryzae management.