A gene cluster encoding lectin receptor kinases confers broad-spectrum and durable insect resistance in rice

Liu et al. provide new resources for improving rice by cloning a gene cluster that enhances resistance to two species of planthoppers, which cause billions of dollars of crop loss. The brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive pest of rice ( Oryza sativa ) and a substantial threat to rice production, causing losses of billions of dollars annually 1 , 2 . Breeding of resistant cultivars is currently hampered by the rapid breakdown of BPH resistance 2 . Thus, there is an urgent need to identify more effective BPH-resistance genes. Here, we report molecular cloning and characterization of Bph3 , a locus in rice identified more than 30 years ago that confers resistance to BPH. We show that Bph3 is a cluster of three genes encoding plasma membrane–localized lectin receptor kinases (OsLecRK1-OsLecRK3). Introgression of Bph3 into susceptible rice varieties by transgenic or marker-assisted selection strategies significantly enhanced resistance to both the BPH and the white back planthopper. Our results suggest that these lectin receptor kinase genes function together to confer broad-spectrum and durable insect resistance and provide a resource for molecular breeding of insect-resistant rice cultivars.