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Over the past years, RNA interference (RNAi) has been used as a promising combat strategy against a wide range of pests and pathogens in ensuring global food security. It involves the induction of highly specific posttranscriptional regulation of target essential genes from an organism,  via  the application of precursor long, non-coding double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules that share sequence-complementarity with the mRNAs of the targets. Fungal blast disease caused by  Magnaporthe oryzae  is one of the most deadly diseases of rice and wheat incurring huge losses in global crop yield. To date, the host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) aspects of RNAi have been successfully exploited in developing resistance against  M. oryzae  in rice. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is a current, potential, non-transformative, and environment-friendly pest and pathogen management strategy, where naked or nanomaterial-bound dsRNA are sprayed on leaves to cause selective knockdown of pathogenicity genes. Although it relies on the ability of fungal pathogens to uptake sprayed RNA, its efficiency varies largely across phytopathogens and their genes, targeted for silencing. Here, we report a transient dsRNA supplementation system for the targeted knockdown of  MoDES1 , a host-defense suppressor pathogenicity gene from  M. oryzae . We validate the feasibility of  in vivo  SIGS and post-uptake transfer of RNA signals to distal plant parts in rice- M. oryzae  pathosystem through a  GFP -based reporter system. A protocol for efficient silencing  via  direct foliar spray of naked dsRNA was optimized. As proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the phenotypic impacts of  in vitro  ds DES1  treatment on growth, conidiation, ROS-scavenging ability, and pathogenic potential of  M. oryzae . Furthermore, our extrapolatory ds DES1  spray experiments on wounded leaves and whole rice plants indicate resultant silencing of  MoDES1  that conferred significant resistance against the fungal blast disease. The evaluation of primary and secondary host defense responses provides evidence supporting the notion that spray of sequence-specific dsRNA on wounded leaf tissue can cause systemic and sustained silencing of a  M. oryzae  target gene. For the first time, we establish a transgene-free SIGS approach as a promising crop protection strategy against the notorious rice-blast fungus.

Spray-Induced Silencing of Pathogenicity Gene MoDES1 via Exogenous Double-Stranded RNA Can Confer Partial Resistance Against Fungal Blast in Rice