**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PLANTS PRODUCE NATURAL PRODUCTS AS ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST MICROBIAL PATHOGENS. HERE WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF A PARTICULARTYPE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS, THE DITERPENOIDS, IN HELPING THE IMPORTANT CROP PLANT RICE DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST BOTH BACTERIAL AND FUNGALPATHOGENS. GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD PRODUCTION OF DITERPENOIDS IN OTHER CEREAL CROP PLANTS, WE EXPECT OUR RESULTS TO BE MOREGENERALLY APPLICABLE, AND HOPE THAT THIS WORK MIGHT ASSIST THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE RESISTANT CROP PLANTS (E.G., BY PROVIDINGTARGETS FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING PROGRAMS AIMED AT INCREASED DISEASE RESISTANCE).