In the ongoing battle against plant pathogens, the rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae) stands out as a formidable foe, threatening food security worldwide. Now, scientists from Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) have uncovered what drives this deadly fungus from within.
A recent study published in The Plant Cell, led by Prof. Miao Yansong and with Dr. Danxia He as the first author, reveals a key organiser protein — MoSpa2 — that plays a central role in assembling the fungus’s infection machinery. This groundbreaking discovery brings us one step closer to understanding and eventually halting this pathogen’s attack on rice crops.
The Discovery – A Protein That Orchestrates Fungal Invasion
Plants rely on complex immune systems to defend themselves, but Magnaporthe oryzae has evolved sophisticated strategies to overcome these defences. The study revealed that the fungal protein MoSpa2 forms a phase-separated complex—a specialised molecular structure that clusters at critical points within the fungus to coordinate infection.
These clusters act as actin nucleation centres, gathering the building blocks of the fungal cytoskeleton needed to drive cell growth and invasion. In essence, MoSpa2 helps M. oryzae organise and concentrate its infection toolkit, enabling the fungus to breach plant cells more effectively.
Importantly, disrupting MoSpa2 weakens these centres and significantly reduces the fungus’s ability to infect, making the protein a promising target for future plant protection strategies.
Looking Ahead – Towards Fungal-Resistant Crops
This breakthrough carries important implications for agriculture. By deepening our understanding of how M. oryzae orchestrates its infection process through phase separation, scientists can begin developing innovative ways to block the fungus and enhance crop resistance.
The work aligns with NTU’s strategic focus on Food, Agriculture, and Aquaculture Technologies, offering fresh possibilities to safeguard crops and improve global food security.
Kudos to Prof. Miao Yansong and the research team for their outstanding contribution to plant pathology and molecular biology.
Read the full paper here.