Ammonium enhances rice resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae through H2O2 accumulation

Nitrogen (N) is essential for the physiological processes of plants. However, the specific mechanisms by which different nitrogen forms influence rice blast pathogenesis remain poorly understood. This study used hydroponic assays to explore how ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) affect rice after inoculation with Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae). The results showed that NH4+, compared to NO3−, significantly reduced disease severity, fungal growth, fungal hyphae number, the expansion capacity of infectious hyphae, and disease-related loss of photosynthesis. Additionally, NH4+ enhanced the expression of defense-related genes, including OsPBZ1, OsCHT1, OsPR1a, and OsPR10. NH4+-treated rice also exhibited higher hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. Moreover, susceptibility to rice blast disease increased when H2O2 was scavenged, while a reduction in susceptibility was observed with the application of exogenous H2O2. These results suggest that ammonium enhances rice resistance to M. oryzae, potentially through H2O2 accumulation. The findings provide valuable insights into how different nitrogen forms affect plant immunity in rice, which is crucial for controlling rice blast and ensuring stable food production. •How nitrogen forms affect rice blast disease and its underlying mechanism.•Compared with NO3− treatment, NH4+ treatment significantly suppresses the rice blast severity.•Ammonium enhances rice resistance against M. oryzae through associated H2O2 accumulation.