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

Document Type

Article

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.