"Pathogenic fungi are the 'enemy,' and fungal viruses are the 'enemy' of the 'enemy.' Isn't the 'enemy' of the 'enemy' our 'friend'?"
On May 9th, the on-site observation event of "Plant Vaccine Promotes Wheat Disease Resistance, Quality Improvement, and Green Production Technology" was held in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. Professor Jiang Daohong from Huazhong Agricultural University presented a groundbreaking green crop disease control achievement called "plant vaccine," attracting the attention of scholars present.
Observing the event on-site. Image provided by Huazhong Agricultural University.
From animal vaccines to crop vaccines
The concept of plant vaccines was inspired by the concepts of human and animal vaccines. Jiang Daohong told Science China Press that for a long time, he and his team had been pondering a question: after human and animal vaccines are injected into recipients, they produce antibodies for disease prevention and treatment. Can this idea of "vaccinating for disease" be applied to plants, including crops?
Research has shown that crops are infected by various pathogens throughout their lifecycle, with over 80% of diseases caused by pathogenic fungi. Jiang Daohong's team utilized non-pathogenic and endophytic characteristics of fungi carrying pathogenic fungi viruses to "vaccinate" seeds or plants, triggering the plants' disease resistance. This approach transforms the "enemies" from the opposing camp into "friends," ultimately protecting the plants. Compared to traditional methods of "seeing pests to control pests" or "seeing diseases to treat diseases," this team has pioneered a new technique using beneficial microorganisms to combat diseases.
It is known that Jiang Daohong's team has been dedicated to plant disease resistance research for 14 years. In 2010, they successfully isolated the disease-resistant DT-8 strain from canola plants in Datong Lake, Yiyang, Hunan. Starting from this point, they have successfully implemented disease-resistant "plant vaccines" on crops such as rice, canola, barley, and corn. Following the success of rice and canola "plant vaccines," the team aims to find a place for the "plant vaccine" in wheat by 2023.
Wheat is considered a non-host plant for the wheat blast fungus. The team's research revealed that the wheat blast fungus is a friend of cereal plants, as it can grow endophytically on wheat without harming it. Leveraging this trait, the team developed a vaccine named "Green Wheat Treasure," which uses the fungus virus SsHADV-1 to suppress the wheat blast fungus's pathogenicity. Simultaneously, the endophytic wheat blast fungus can support the crop's immune system, enhancing the overall disease resistance of the crop.
Academician Kang Zhensheng of the Chinese Academy of Engineering informed reporters that China suffers an annual average loss of 14 million tons of crops due to plant diseases and pests. Historically, disease resistance in food crops has relied on chemical pesticides, causing environmental harm. Finding a protective solution for "good seeds" has long been a quest for scientists. The introduction of the wheat plant vaccine "Green Wheat Treasure" offers a new path for environmentally friendly disease control in wheat.
From "Green Rice Treasure" to "Green Wheat Treasure"
With the wind blowing through the wheat fields, a bountiful harvest is in sight.
In the demonstration area of Maogang Village in Xiangyang City, over 100 experts including academicians, professors, agronomists, and researchers conducted on-site inspections of the growth of "vaccinated wheat."
Science China Press observed that in the wheat fields treated with "plant vaccines," the wheat seedlings were robust, and the wheat ears were dense.
"Fast, uniform, robust, green," commented Bai Guiping, an expert from Xiangyang Agricultural Science Institute, on the visible effects of "vaccinated wheat."
With the introduction of canola vaccine "Green Canola Treasure," rice vaccine "Green Rice Treasure," and wheat vaccine "Green Wheat Treasure," there is an optimistic expectation that in the future, scientists may develop a broad-spectrum disease-resistant "vaccine" suitable for multiple crops and diseases. This advancement will significantly enhance the comprehensive immunity of crops, providing a green "shield" for food security and seed industry safety.
Academician Zhang Xianlong believes that the concept of the "wheat vaccine" is novel, effective, well-structured, easy to implement, and holds great potential. He hopes that the research team will strengthen both fundamental and applied research, transforming the technology into a more user-friendly "foolproof technology" for increased crop yields and income for farmers.
Academician Bai Lianyang hopes that the "wheat vaccine" can be widely promoted in more regions such as Hunan, Gansu, and Zhejiang, facilitating broader trials, testing, and application research.
"Although the application prospects are promising, 'plant vaccines' are still a nascent concept, with many technical challenges to overcome. In the future, we will strive to break through these challenges to enable its wider application," stated Jiang Daohong.
