Mutation of OsCDS5 confers broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice

Phospholipids are important components of biological membranes, participating in various biological processes, including plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. A previous study showed that mutation of the rice OsCDS5 (CDP-DAG Synthase) gene alters lipid metabolism, causing enhanced abiotic stress responses, yellowing of leaves at the seedling stage and delayed plant development. Here, we observed that the Oscds5 mutant shows enhanced resistance to rice blast, bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak. Mutation of OsCDS5 promotes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases the expression level of multiple defense-related genes. Transcriptomic analyses indicate that genes involved in responses to stress, biotic/abiotic stimuli and metabolic processes are highly upregulated and enriched in mutant Oscds5. Metabolomic analyses show that differential metabolites are enriched in the lipid metabolic and tryptophan metabolic pathways. The decreased level of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and increased level of serotonin likely contribute to enhanced disease resistance of the Oscds5 mutant. Taken together, mutation of OsCDS5 enhances abiotic and biotic stress responses, and OsCDS5 may be a promising target in genetic engineering to enhance the resilience of rice to abiotic and biotic stresses simultaneously.