Partial peptides from rice defensin OsAFP1 exhibited antifungal activity against the rice blast pathogen Pyricularia oryzae .

Rice blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of rice defensin OsAFP1 and its partial peptides against R oryzae. The partial peptides near the N- and C -terminal regions of OsAFP1 exhibited approximately the same antifungal activity as the entire protein against P. oryzae. These partial peptides have the potential to be used as fungicides. Pesticide Science Society of Japan