NIPGR researchers have discovered a novel antifungal protein, Bg_9562 exhibits broad-spectrum antifungal activity on a wide range of pathogenic fungi, including plant [Rhizoctonia solani (the causal agent of rice sheath blight disease, Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast disease), Fusarium sp. (wilt disease), Colletotrichum sp. (anthracnose disease), Phytophthora sp, (late blight disease)] and animal (Candida sp) pathogens (Swain et al. 2017. Nature communications, Patent protected in India, USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, and Canada). Subsequent studies have identified a small peptide of the protein (that can be chemically synthesized) that retains antifungal activity and mounts a potent immune response that wards off bacterial pathogens, including Ralstonia solanacearum, the bacterial wilt pathogen (Chandan et al. 2023, New phytologists). Under BioE3 policy of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, efforts are being made to develop a protein/ peptide-based nano-formulation for the sustainable management of plant disease. It is an environmentally friendly approach that will not only reduce reliance on agrochemical-based disease management but also improve the trade value of the crop.
The efficacy of the protein/peptide solutions in the control of sheath blight disease (which causes up to 50% yield loss in rice) is shown in the video. Rice plants were first infected with the pathogen, and once the disease appeared, plants were sprayed with protein, peptide, and buffer (without protein/ peptide) solutions. The first set of plants is sprayed with protein, and disease progression into leaves and panicles is effectively controlled. 2nd set of plants is spread with the buffer only, and they are almost dead, due to disease progression. 3rd set of plants is treated with peptide, and disease progression is controlled. 4th set of plants is treated with the buffer solution and are almost dead.
Reference:
- Swain, D.M., Yadav, S.K., Tyagi, I., Kumar, R., Kumar, R., Ghosh, S., Das, J. and Jha, G. *. 2017. A prophage tail-like protein is deployed by Burkholderia bacteria to feed on fungi. Nature communications. 8.404. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00529-0
- Chandan, R.K., Kumar, R., Kabyashree, K., Yadav, S.K., Roy, M., Swain, D., and Jha, G*. 2023. A prophage tail-like protein facilitates the endophytic growth of Burkholderia gladioli and mounting immunity in tomato. New Phytologist. 240: 1202-1218. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19184