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Submitted to: Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2013 Publication Date: 1/12/2014 Citation: Huang, Y. 2014. Genetic and genomic studies of host-plant resistance to greenbug in sorghum [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the XXII Annual International Plant & Animal Genome Conference, January 11-15, 2014, San Diego, California. W730. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Sorghum is a very versatile crop, which has been used for food, forage and feedstock for bioenergy production. It has also been an attractive model for functional genomics of C4 grasses. But sorghum is being threatened by many insect species. Among those damaging insects, greenbug (Schizaphis graminum) is the most predominant insect pest in the sorghum fields and causes significant loss of the crop worldwide. Considerable progress has been made in screening and breeding for resistance to greenbugs, and host-plant resistance has been proven as one of the most effective means of managing greenbug and other insect pests. More recently, the development of new genomic tools such as genome sequencing, QTL mapping, DNA microarrays, RNA-sequencing, real-time PCR, protein expression profiling and bioinformatics allow for more in-depth knowledge about the genetics of host defense and mechanisms involved in host-plant resistance to insect pests. This paper will illustrate genomic methods currently employed to characterize resistant germplasm and to facilitate the study and transfer of resistance genes or QTLs. Patterns of gene activation during host-plant defensive response are depicted in the model species - sorghum. This paper will also describe the opportunities offered by the application of new genomic technologies, including high-throughput DNA sequencing, large-scale expression data production and the comparative functional genomics, whilst reporting multifaceted approaches to achieve genetic control of sorghum insect pests. Further strategies combining the huge amount of genomic and genetic data will be able to accelerate development of novel resistance varieties sustainably on a global basis. |
