Phylogenetic Analysis of Blast Resistant RMG7 (Resistance to Magnaporthe Grisea 7) Gene in Cereals (Wheat and Rice)

Abstract

Understanding the emergence and evolution of plant pathogens has benefited greatly from phylogenetic approaches. Phylogenetic analysis of the Blast Resistant RMG7 (Resistance to Magnaporthe grisea 7) gene would involve the study of its evolutionary relationships with related genes across different species. This study aimed to understand the gene's origin, divergence, and evolutionary history, which can provide insights into its function and potential applications in crop improvement. The study obtained the total of 36 DNA sequences of the RMG7 gene from different organisms (wheat and rice) from publicly available NCBI(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) database on 20 May 2023 to investigate its evolution. The Sequences were selected based on the representation of a diverse range of species, including those known to have blast resistance or related traits. Using the generic time reversible model and the maximum likelihood method, evolutionary history was determined. These methods used statistical algorithms to estimate the evolutionary relationships between the sequences, forming a tree that represents their common ancestry. An evolutionary tree evolved using the aligned RMG7 sequences to determine the common ancestor of each strain. The Geneious software, for which purpose (sequence alignment), which tool (such as muscle, geneious aligner, cluster) was used to carry sequence alignment, including parameters (in Geneious: local alignment or global, and at which identity value (65% identical) used in doing the alignment. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the resulting tree to interpret the evolutionary relationships among the RMG7 gene sequences. The Intensified clusters or branches that group sequences with similar blast resistance characteristics or closely related species. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history, genetic diversity, and relatedness of the RMG7 gene in cereals, particularly in wheat and rice. The findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms of blast resistance and for enhancing crop protection strategies against Magnaporthe grisea.