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Title: Genome-wide survey and characterization of greenbug induced NAC transcription factors in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Author
item ZHANG, HENGYOU - Oklahoma State University
item Huang, Yinghua

Submitted to: Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2012
Publication Date: 1/14/2013
Citation: Zhang, H., Huang, Y. 2013. Genome-wide survey and characterization of greenbug induced NAC transcription factors in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the XXI Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference, January 12-16, 2013, San Diego, California. P0191.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sorghum is an important crop grown world-wide because of its diverse uses as food, forage, and bioenergy feedstock and its wide range of adaption even under the poor nutritional environments. Greenbug can cause severe damage to sorghum plants and economic loss by sucking nutrients from the host while introducing phytotoxins into the plants. Plant NAC transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to have diverse functions in plant development as well as roles in relation to plant defense responses. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of NAC gene family was conducted through genomic analysis. A total of 112 full-length NAC genes, including 6 membrane-bound members, were identified in the sorghum genome. The sorghum NAC genes were phylogenetically clustered into 15 distinct subfamilies. The SbNAC genes unevenly distributed in clusters at the telmoeric ends of each chromosome and twelve pairs of SbNAC genes were possibly involved in the segmental duplication among nine chromosomes except chromosome 10. Structure analysis showed the diverse structures and highly variable number of exon of the SbNAC genes; however, they share closely evolutionary relationship base on the protein sequences. Furthermore, the majority of the SbNAC genes showed the specific temporal and spatial expression patterns according to the results of RNA-seq analysis, suggesting their diverse functions during sorghum growth and development. We also investigated the expression profiles of two sorghum varieties (susceptible and resistant lines) in response to infestation by greenbug biotype I in order to explore any the greenbug-inducible SbNAC genes. Our systematic analysis of the NAC gene expression profiles provides both a preliminary look into their roles in plant defense against insect pest and a useful reference for in-depth characterization of candidate SbNAC genes and the gene network that contribute genetic resistance to greenbug.