TY - JOUR
T1 - Aphid-Responsive Defense Networks in Hybrid Switchgrass
AU - Koch, Kyle G.
AU - Palmer, Nathan A.
AU - Donze-Reiner, Teresa
AU - Scully, Erin D.
AU - Seravalli, Javier
AU - Amundsen, Keenan
AU - Twigg, Paul
AU - Louis, Joe
AU - Bradshaw, Jeffrey D.
AU - Heng-Moss, Tiffany Marie
AU - Sarath, Gautam
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by grants from USDA-NIFA grant number 2011-67009-30096 and by the USDA-ARS CRIS project 3042-21000-034-00D. The University of Nebraska DNA Sequencing Core receives partial support from the NCRR (1S10RR027754-01, 5P20RR016469, RR018788-08) and the National Institute for General Medical Science (NIGMS) (8P20GM103427, GM103471-09). This publication’s contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or NIGMS.
Funding Information:
We thank Lois Bernhardson and Katherine Keller for laboratory help, and the University of Nebraska Core Facilities for hormone analysis and DNA sequencing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and all agency services are available without discrimination. Mention of commercial products and organizations in this manuscript is solely to provide specific information. It does not constitute endorsement by USDA-ARS over other products and organizations not mentioned.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Koch, Palmer, Donze-Reiner, Scully, Seravalli, Amundsen, Twigg, Louis, Bradshaw, Heng-Moss and Sarath.
PY - 2020/7/30
Y1 - 2020/7/30
N2 - Aphid herbivory elicits plant defense-related networks that are influenced by host genetics. Plants of the upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivar Summer can be a suitable host for greenbug aphids (Schizaphis graminum; GB), and yellow sugarcane aphids (Sipha flava, YSA), whereas the lowland cultivar Kanlow exhibited multi-species resistance that curtails aphid reproduction. However, stabilized hybrids of Summer (♀) x Kanlow (♂) (SxK) with improved agronomics can be damaged by both aphids. Here, hormone and metabolite analyses, coupled with RNA-Seq analysis of plant transcriptomes, were utilized to delineate defense networks induced by aphid feeding in SxK switchgrass and pinpoint plant transcription factors (TFs), such as WRKYs that potentially regulate these responses. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels were significantly higher in GB infested plants at 5 and 10 days after infestation (DAI). ABA levels were highest at 15DAI in YSA infested plants. Jasmonic acid levels were significantly elevated under GB infestation, while salicylic acid levels were signifi40cantly elevated only at 15 DAI in YSA infested plants. Similarly, levels of several metabolites were altered in common or specifically to each aphid. YSA infestation induced a significant enrichment of flavonoids consistent with an upregulation of many genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis at 15DAI. Gene co-expression modules that responded singly to either aphid or in common to both aphids were differentiated and linked to specific TFs. Together, these data provide important clues into the interplay of metabolism and transcriptional remodeling accompanying defense responses to aphid herbivory in hybrid switchgrass.
AB - Aphid herbivory elicits plant defense-related networks that are influenced by host genetics. Plants of the upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivar Summer can be a suitable host for greenbug aphids (Schizaphis graminum; GB), and yellow sugarcane aphids (Sipha flava, YSA), whereas the lowland cultivar Kanlow exhibited multi-species resistance that curtails aphid reproduction. However, stabilized hybrids of Summer (♀) x Kanlow (♂) (SxK) with improved agronomics can be damaged by both aphids. Here, hormone and metabolite analyses, coupled with RNA-Seq analysis of plant transcriptomes, were utilized to delineate defense networks induced by aphid feeding in SxK switchgrass and pinpoint plant transcription factors (TFs), such as WRKYs that potentially regulate these responses. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels were significantly higher in GB infested plants at 5 and 10 days after infestation (DAI). ABA levels were highest at 15DAI in YSA infested plants. Jasmonic acid levels were significantly elevated under GB infestation, while salicylic acid levels were signifi40cantly elevated only at 15 DAI in YSA infested plants. Similarly, levels of several metabolites were altered in common or specifically to each aphid. YSA infestation induced a significant enrichment of flavonoids consistent with an upregulation of many genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis at 15DAI. Gene co-expression modules that responded singly to either aphid or in common to both aphids were differentiated and linked to specific TFs. Together, these data provide important clues into the interplay of metabolism and transcriptional remodeling accompanying defense responses to aphid herbivory in hybrid switchgrass.
KW - Panicum virgatum
KW - aphids
KW - gene-networks
KW - hybrid switchgrass
KW - metabolites
KW - plant defense
KW - transcription factors
KW - transcriptomes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089488281&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85089488281&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpls.2020.01145
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2020.01145
M3 - Article
C2 - 32849703
AN - SCOPUS:85089488281
SN - 1664-462X
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
JF - Frontiers in Plant Science
M1 - 1145
ER -