In-silico Characterization of Defence-Related Genes for Blast Resistance on Chromosome 7 in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, remains a major constraint to global rice production. Genetic resistance to blast is a well known phenomenon where hundreds of QTLs or genes have been reported. The in-silico characterization of the genomic region on chromosome 7 was performed in relation to blast resistance using the Rice Annotation Project Database (RAP-DB). The region harbored several genes associated with defence-related functions, including members of the fatty acid desaturase (FAD2) family, WRKY transcription factors, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and some directly related to blast resistant. These genes are known to play important roles in modulating oxidative stress, cell signaling, and pathogen defence mechanisms. Functional annotation indicated the presence of domains related to disease resistance and stress tolerance, highlighting their potential involvement in M. oryzae resistance. The study identifies promising candidate genes that can be targeted for functional validation and molecular breeding aimed at developing blast-resistant rice varieties.