Sheath blight is one of the most destructive diseases of rice that is caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Therefore, understanding molecular mechanisms of rice-Rhizoctonia interaction is necessary for adoption of effective approaches of disease management. Here for the first time, we report an ortholog of Magnaporthe oryzae Avr − Pita1 gene, designated as Rhiz_Pita in R. solani AG1-IA. Rhiz_Pita showed multiple characteristics of effector proteins; First, more than 98 % identity was calculated between Rhiz_Pita deduced protein sequence and Mag-Pita complete protein sequence. SignalP and PrediSi programs predicted a secretion signal upstream of deduced ORF of Rhiz − Pita gene. Also, Rhiz_Pita secretion potential was approved by using yeast secretion trap system (YST). Detected by Real-time PCR, Rhiz − Pita gene expression level was increased following the application of rice leaf extraction in R. solani culture medium. Also, Rhiz _ Pita gene expression was significantly elevated in the infected rice plants since 24 h post infection. Overall, these results suggest that novel Rhiz − Pita gene might encode a bona fide effector protein that its expression is associated to the fungal penetration in the early stages of infection.
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