A sorghum genome-wide association study (GWAS) identifies a WRKY transcription factor as a candidate gene underlying sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) resistance
Main conclusion A WRKY transcription factor identified through forward genetics is associated with sorghum resistance to the sugarcane aphid and through heterologous expression reduces aphid populations in multiple plant species. Crop plant resistance to insect pests is based on genetically encoded...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Planta 2022-02, Vol.255 (2), p.37-37, Article 37 |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | Main conclusion
A WRKY transcription factor identified through forward genetics is associated with sorghum resistance to the sugarcane aphid and through heterologous expression reduces aphid populations in multiple plant species.
Crop plant resistance to insect pests is based on genetically encoded traits which often display variability across diverse germplasm. In a comparatively recent event, a predominant sugarcane aphid (SCA:
Melanaphis sacchari
) biotype has become a significant agronomic pest of grain sorghum (
Sorghum bicolor
). To uncover candidate genes underlying SCA resistance, we used a forward genetics approach combining the genetic diversity present in the Sorghum Association Panel (SAP) and the Bioenergy Association Panel (BAP) for a genome-wide association study, employing an established SCA damage rating. One major association was found on Chromosome 9 within the
WRKY transcription factor 86
(
SbWRKY86
). Transcripts encoding
SbWRKY86
were previously identified as upregulated in SCA-resistant germplasm and the syntenic ortholog in maize accumulates following
Rhopalosiphum maidis
infestation. Analyses of
SbWRKY86
transcripts displayed patterns of increased SCA-elicited accumulation in additional SCA-resistant sorghum lines. Heterologous expression of
SbWRKY86
in both tobacco (
Nicotiana benthamiana
) and Arabidopsis resulted in reduced population growth of green peach aphid (
Myzus persicae
). Comparative RNA-Seq analyses of Arabidopsis lines expressing
35S:SbWRKY86-YFP
identified changes in expression for a small network of genes associated with carbon–nitrogen metabolism and callose deposition, both contributing factors to defense against aphids. As a test of altered plant responses,
35S:SbWRKY86-YFP
Arabidopsis lines were activated using the flagellin epitope elicitor, flg22, and displayed significant increases in callose deposition. Our findings indicate that both heterologous and increased native expression of the transcription factor
SbWRKY86
contributes to reduced aphid levels in diverse plant models. |
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ISSN: | 0032-0935 1432-2048 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00425-021-03814-x |