Identification of an orthologous clade of peroxidases that respond to feeding by greenbugs (Schizaphis graminum) in C₄ grasses

Authors

Erin D. Scully, USDA-ARSFollow
Teresa Donze-Reiner, West Chester UniversityFollow
Haichuan Wang, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Thomas Eickhoff, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fred Baxendale, University of Nebraska--LincolnFollow
Paul Twigg, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Frank Kovacs, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Tiffany Heng-Moss, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Scott E. Sattler, USDA-ARSFollow
Gautam Sarath, USDA-ARSFollow

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Functional Plant Biology, 2016, 43, 1134–1148

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Knowledge of specific peroxidases that respond to aphid herbivory is limited in C₄ grasses, but could provide targets for improving defence against these pests. A sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) peroxidase (SbPrx-1; Sobic.002G416700) has been previously linked to biotic stress responses, and was the starting point for this study. Genomic analyses indicated that SbPrx-1 was part of a clade of five closely related peroxidase genes occurring within a ~30 kb region on chromosome 2 of the sorghum genome. Comparison of this ~30-kb region to syntenic regions in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) identified similar related clusters of peroxidases. Infestation of a susceptible sorghum cultivar with greenbugs (Shizaphis graminum Rondani) induced three of the five peroxidases. Greenbug infestation of switchgrass and foxtail millet plants showed similar inductions of peroxidases. SbPrx-1 was also induced in response to aphid herbivory in a greenbug-resistant sorghum line, Cargill 607E. These data indicate that this genomic region of C₄ grasses could be valuable as a marker to assess potential insect resistance in C₄ grasses.