Direct avirulence effector-receptor interaction confers wheat immunity against insects

Wheat immunity against the global pest Hessian fly operates on a gene-for-gene basis, yet molecular mechanisms underlying resistance-avirulence interactions have remained elusive for over five decades due to the absence of any cloned insect-resistance gene. Here, we cloned the H13 resistance gene encoding a coiled-coil/nucleotide-binding/leucine-rich repeat protein that protects wheat against multiple Hessian fly biotypes, and demonstrate direct molecular interaction with its cognate avirulence effector, vH13. H13-vH13 recognition activates effector-triggered immunity through calcium signaling, oxidative burst, jasmonic acid and ethylene, but not salicylic acid, signaling pathways, leading to larval antibiosis. Notably, H13 is evolutionarily unique, lacking similarity with other wheat disease- or plant insect-resistance proteins. This study provides a mechanistic model for understanding and engineering durable insect resistance in crops.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2026-08-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aef4700
Primary Topic
Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Direct avirulence effector-receptor interaction confers wheat immunity against insects

Subhashree Subramanyam, Nidhi Rawat, Bikram S. Gill, Giovanna T. S. Moreira et al.
Science Advances
Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
article

Direct avirulence effector-receptor interaction confers wheat immunity against insects

Subhashree Subramanyam, Nidhi Rawat, Bikram S. Gill, Giovanna T. S. Moreira, Nagesh Sardesai, Leonor C. Boavida, Matrika Bhattarai, Jill A. Nemacheck, Michael V. Kolomiets, Harold N. Trick, Veerendra Kumar Sharma, Ahmed Faik, Israel Arellano, Anupama Joshi, Jeffrey J. Stuart, Vijay Tiwari
article en

Abstract

Wheat immunity against the global pest Hessian fly operates on a gene-for-gene basis, yet molecular mechanisms underlying resistance-avirulence interactions have remained elusive for over five decades due to the absence of any cloned insect-resistance gene. Here, we cloned the H13 resistance gene encoding a coiled-coil/nucleotide-binding/leucine-rich repeat protein that protects wheat against multiple Hessian fly biotypes, and demonstrate direct molecular interaction with its cognate avirulence effector, vH13. H13-vH13 recognition activates effector-triggered immunity through calcium signaling, oxidative burst, jasmonic acid and ethylene, but not salicylic acid, signaling pathways, leading to larval antibiosis. Notably, H13 is evolutionarily unique, lacking similarity with other wheat disease- or plant insect-resistance proteins. This study provides a mechanistic model for understanding and engineering durable insect resistance in crops.

Science AdvancesVol. 12(33)
Agricultural Research Service (US), Kansas State University (US), Purdue University West Lafayette (US), Ohio University (US), Corteva (United States) (US), University of Maryland, College Park (US), Texas A&M University (US)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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