ARS | Publication request: USE OF HIGH-THROUGHPUT TRANSCRIPT ANALYSIS IN WHEAT TO CHARACTERIZE GENES RESPONDING TO DIVERSE PESTS AND PATHOGENS

Submitted to: Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 12, 2002
Publication Date: January 9, 2003
Citation: Goodwin, S.B., Anderson, J.M., Ohm, H.W., Lohret, T.A., Crasta, O.R., Williams, C.E. 2003. Use of high-throughput transcript analysis in wheat to characterize genes responding to diverse pests and pathogens. Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference.

Technical Abstract: The most desirable method for limiting losses due to pests and pathogens of wheat is through host-plant resistance. Although many resistance genes are known in wheat, whether resistance to different organisms occurs by the same or multiple pathways is not known. To identify resistance pathways, wheat tissue treated with pests and pathogens was analyzed by GeneCalling®, an open-architecture transcript-profiling technology (www.curagen.com). The pests/pathogens tested were: Mycosphaerella graminicola (cause of septoria tritici leaf blotch); Fusarium graminearum (head scab); Mayetiola destructor (Hessian fly); and Barley and Cereal Yellow Dwarf Viruses. The GeneCalling experiments profiled >12,000 cDNA fragments per sample, many of which were differentially modulated by at least 1.5 times. Among all four treatments, 11,719 fragments were differentially modulated at one or more time points, divided nearly equally between those that were up (6,011) or down (5,708) regulated. Responses began by the earliest time points sampled. Sequencing of 685 cDNA fragments revealed many genes known to be activated during defense responses including phenylalanine ammonia lyase, glucanases, chitinases, peroxidases, and thaumatin-like proteins. Additional genes probably were involved in cell signaling including a high number of kinases and phosphatases. Approximately 10% of the sequences had no matches in any of the six databases searched and an additional 8% had only weak matches (E-values > 1e-08). These may represent previously unknown mechanisms of resistance. Two cDNA fragments were modulated in response to all four treatments. These analyses revealed a rapid, coordinated resistance response in wheat that vary depending on the pest or pathogen encountered.