Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215492
Title: Genomic resources for Myzus persicae: EST sequencing, SNP identification, and microarray design

Author
item RAMSEY,, J - BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE
item WILSON,, A - UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
item DE VOS,, M - BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE
item SUN,, Q - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item TAMBORINDINGUY,, C - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item WINFIELD,, A - SCOTTISH CROP RES INST
item MALLACK,, G - SCOTTISH CROP RES INST
item SMITH,, D - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item FENTON,, B - SCOTTISH CROP RES INST
item Gray, Stewart
item JANDER,, G - BOYCE THOMPSON INSTITUTE

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2007
Publication Date: 11/16/2007
Citation: Ramsey,, J., Wilson,, A., De Vos,, M., Sun,, Q., Tamborindinguy,, C., Winfield,, A., Mallack,, G., Smith,, D., Fenton,, B., Gray, S.M., Jander,, G. 2007. Genomic resources for Myzus persicae: EST sequencing, SNP identification, and microarray design. Biomed Central (BMC) Genomics. 8:423.

Interpretive Summary: The green peach aphid (GPA) attacks a multitude of crops and transmits over 100 plant viruses. Development of novel methods to control aphid feeding or the transmission of disease agents will be improved by a more complete understanding of the aphid genome. The purpose of this study was to develop a number of genome resources that can be used by different research groups to study aphid gene function and regulation. This paper describes the partial genome sequence of the GPA and the comparison of sequences from a multitude of GPA populations and other aphid species. Over 2400 novel genes were identified. Sequence differences among populations and species are useful genetic markers for distinguishing functional differences among aphids. In addition, a microarray containing several thousand aphid genes was developed and is available to the research community to facility studies on aphid gene expression. This represents the first publicly available genome research data and tools to study this important insect pest.

Technical Abstract: The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a world-wide insect pest capable of infesting more than 40 plant families, including many crop species. However, despite the significant damage inflicted by M. persicae in agricultural systems, primarily through its ability to transmit plant viruses, limited genomic information is available for this species. Sequencing of 16 M. persicae cDNA libraries generated 26,669 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). The M. persicae cDNA libraries include ones made from sexual and asexual whole aphids, guts, heads, and salivary glands. In silico comparison of cDNA libraries identified aphid genes with tissue-specific expression patterns, and gene expression that is induced by feeding on Nicotiana benthamiana. Furthermore, 2423 genes that are novel to science and potentially aphid-specific were identified. Comparison of cDNA data from three aphid lineages identified single nucleotide polymorphisms that can be used as genetic markers and, in some cases, may represent functional differences in the protein products. In particular, non-conservative amino acid substitutions in a highly expressed gut protease may be of adaptive significance for M. persicae feeding on different host plants. The Agilent eArray platform was used to design an M. persicae oligonucleotide microarray representing over 10,000 unique genes. New genomic resources have been developed for M. persicae, an agriculturally important insect pest.