Plant specific gene family, NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors have been characterized for their roles in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. In this study, we isolated OsNAC58 gene from rice and analysed expression level by inoculation of bacterial leaf blight pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). NAC transcription factor family can be divided into five groups (I–V). On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, OsNAC58 was fall into group III. 35S::OsNAC58-GFP fusion protein was localized on the nuclei. To investigate its biological function in the rice, we constructed vector for overexpression in rice, and then generated transgenic rices. Gene expression of OsNAC58-overexpressed transgenic rice lines were analyzed by northern blot. Analysis of disease resistance to pathogen Xoo, twelve OsNAC58-overexpressed transgenic rice lines showing high expression level of OsNAC58 were shown more resistant than wild type. These results suggest that OsNAC58 gene may play regulatory role during pathogen infection.

Plant specific gene family, NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors have been characterized for their roles in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. In this study, we isolated OsNAC69 gene and analysed expression level by inoculation of bacterial leaf blight pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). NAC transcription factor family can be divided into five groups (I–V). On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, OsNAC69 was fall into group II. OsNAC69 was strongly induced 1 hr after infected with Xoo. To investigate its biological function in the rice, we constructed vector for overexpression in rice, and then generated transgenic rices. Gene expression of OsNAC69-overexpressed transgenic rice lines were analyzed by northern blot. Analysis of disease resistance to pathogen Xoo, nine OsNAC69-overexpressed transgenic rice lines showing high expression level of OsNAC69 were shown more resistant than wild type. These results suggest that OsNAC69 gene may play regulatory role during pathogen infection.