Protecting crops from diseases is vital for the sustainable agricultural systems that are needed for food security. Introducing functional resistance genes to enhance the plant immune system is highly effective for disease resistance, but identifying new immune receptors is resource intensive. We observed that functional immune receptors of the nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) class show a signature of high expression in uninfected plants across both monocot and dicot species. Here, by exploiting this signature combined with high-throughput transformation, we generated a wheat transgenic array of 995 NLRs from diverse grass species to identify new resistance genes for wheat. Confirming this proof of concept, we identified new resistance genes against the stem rust pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici and the leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina, both major threats to wheat production. This pipeline facilitates the rapid identification of candidate NLRs and provides in planta gene validation of resistance. The accelerated discovery of new NLRs from a large gene pool of diverse and non-domesticated plant species will enhance the development of disease-resistant crops.

Agri Bio Research Center Kaneka Corporation Iwata Shizuoka Japan

Blades Evanston IL USA

Department of Integrated Plant Protection Kroměříž Czech Republic

Department of Plant Pathology University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA

Gatsby Charitable Foundation London UK

NIAB Cambridge UK

Plant Innovation Center Japan Tobacco Inc Iwata Japan

The Sainsbury Laboratory University of East Anglia Norwich UK

USDA ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory University of Minnesota St Paul MN USA

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