OsSTK-Mediated Sakuranetin Biosynthesis and Carbon Flux Orchestrate Growth and Defence in Rice.

ABSTRACT: Plants balance resource energy allocation between growth and immunity to ensure survival and reproduction under limited availability. This study reveals that rice cultivars with elevated sucrose levels boost resistance to the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae by accumulating the phytoalexin sakuranetin, regulated by the transcription factor STOREKEEPER (OsSTK). OsSTK binds to the promoter region of OsNOMT (Naringenin-7-O-Methyltransferase) to drive sakuranetin biosynthesis. Rice overexpressing OsSTK exhibits enhanced resistance to M. oryzae and improved growth, with greater plant height and higher grain yield, achieved through optimised resource allocation and carbon flow supporting both primary and secondary metabolite production. Moreover, the identification of OsSTK haplotypes linked t

SUBMITTER: Hu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12906840 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature