<i>OsMATE6</i> gene putatively involved in host defense response toward susceptibility against <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> in rice

Sheath blight caused by <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> AG1-IA is the second most serious disease of rice worldwide. Elucidating the role of multi-drug and toxic compound extrusion (<i>MATE</i>) gene family in host-pathogens interactions may uncover a new possible way to comprehend the mechanism of sheath blight resistance in rice<i>.</i> We foremost explored the role of <i>OsMATE</i> genes against <i>R. solani</i> resistance through comparative transcriptomics in PR114 (susceptible) and ShB-8 (moderately resistant) at 24 and 48 hpi (hours post-inoculation) of <i>R. solani</i> infection, respectively. Six <i>OsMATE</i> genes were differentially expressed and further validated through qRT-PCR. <i>OsMATE6</i> gene was identified as a potential candidate for sheath blight susceptibility as it was significantly up-regulated in PR114. <i>OsMATE6</i> is conserved within the wild relatives and might be translocated from <i>Oryza nivara</i> during the domestication of rice. Further studies are focused to verify its role by overexpression and protein interactions to understand the molecular mechanism of sheath blight resistance.