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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Soybean and Nitrogen Fixation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330389
Title: Transcriptomic dynamics in soybean near-isogenic lines differing in alleles for an aphid resistance gene, following infestation by soybean aphid biotype 2

Author
item LEE, SUNGWOO - North Carolina State University
item CASSONE, BRYAN - Brandon University
item WIJERATNE, ASELA - University Of Memphis
item TAE-HWAN, JUN - Pusan National University
item MICHEL, ANDREW - The Ohio State University
item Mian, Rouf

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2017
Publication Date: 6/19/2017
Citation: Lee, S., Cassone, B.J., Wijeratne, A., Tae-Hwan, J., Michel, A.P., Mian, R.M. 2017. Transcriptomic dynamics in soybean near-isogenic lines differing in alleles for an aphid resistance gene, following infestation by soybean aphid biotype 2. BMC Genomics. DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3829-9.

Interpretive Summary: Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) is a major pest of soybean in north central USA. Genetic resistance of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] against Aphis glycines provides effective management of this invasive pest, though the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate genome-wide changes in gene expressions of soybean near-isogenic lines (NILs) either with the Rag5 allele for resistance or the rag5 allele for susceptibility to the aphid following infestation with soybean aphid biotype 2. The resistant (R)-NIL responded more rapidly to aphid infestation than the susceptible (S)-NIL, with differential expressions of 2,496 genes during first 12 hours of infestation, compared to the un-infested control. Although the majority of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the R-NIL also responded to aphid infestation in S-NIL, overall, the response time was longer and/or the magnitude of change was smaller in the S-NIL. In addition, 37% of total DEGs in R-NIL continued to be regulated at all time points (0, 6, 12, and 48 hours after infestation), while only 1% did so in S-NIL. By comparing R- vs. S-NIL, a total of 556 DEGs were identified. Of the 13 genes annotated in a 120-kb window of the Rag5 locus, two genes (Glyma.13g190200 and Glyma.13g190600) were differentially expressed (upregulated in S- or R-NIL), and another gene (Glyma.13g190500) was induced up to 4-fold in the R-NIL at 6 and 12 hours following aphid infestation. This study provides an understanding of the defense dynamics in compatible and incompatible interactions of soybean and soybean aphid biotype 2. Knowledge gained on soybean and soybean aphid interactions will be useful in developing soybean aphid resistant cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Background: Genetic resistance of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] against Aphis glycines provides effective management of this invasive pest, though the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate genome-wide changes in gene expressions of soybean near-isogenic lines (NILs) either with the Rag5 allele for resistance or the rag5 allele for susceptibility to the aphid following infestation with soybean aphid biotype 2. Results: The resistant (R)-NIL responded more rapidly to aphid infestation than the susceptible (S)-NIL, with differential expressions of 2,496 genes during first 12 hours of infestation, compared to the un-infested control. Although the majority of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the R-NIL also responded to aphid infestation in S-NIL, overall the response time was longer and/or the magnitude of change was smaller in the S-NIL. In addition, 37% of total DEGs in R-NIL continued to be regulated at all time points (0, 6, 12, and 48 hours after infestation), while only 1% did so in S-NIL. Enriched gene ontology of the DEGs included primary metabolite catalysis, oxidative stress reduction, phytohormone-related signaling. By comparing R- vs. S-NIL, a total of 556 DEGs were identified. Of the 13 genes annotated in a 120-kb window of the Rag5 locus, two genes (Glyma.13g190200 and Glyma.13g190600) were differentially expressed (upregulated in S- or R-NIL), and another gene (Glyma.13g190500) was induced up to 4-fold in the R-NIL at 6 and 12 hours following aphid infestation. Conclusions: This study provides an understanding of the defense dynamics in compatible and incompatible interactions of soybean and soybean aphid biotype 2. Several DEGs (e.g., Glyma.13g190200, Glyma.13g190500, and Glyma.13g190600) near the Rag5 locus are strong candidate genes for further investigations.