Identification of novel genes conditioning bacterial blight resistance in rice using genomic resources and functional analysis tools.

Rice is one of the most important crop of the world and feeds more people than any other crop. Rice has emerged as the model for the study of cereal genomes. X. oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight in rice, one of the most devastating diseases of rice worldwide. New strains of Xoo are emerging causing severe damages to the crop. The use of resistant cultivars is the most effective way to control this disease.