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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #368703
Research Project: Genetic Mechanisms and Improvement of Insect Resistance in Wheat, Barley, and Sorghum

Location: Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit

Title: Genomic analysis of host plant resistance to sugarcane aphid in sorghum

Author
item Huang, Yinghua
item HUANG, JIAN - Oklahoma State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The sugarcane aphid (SCA), Melanaphis sacchari (Zerhntner), is typically known as a key pest to sorghum and sugarcane in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Since 2013, this new invasive pest rapidly spread in the most sorghum planting areas in the U.S. and has become a significant threat to sorghum production. It is believed that host plant resistance should form the backbone of the pest management in sorghum. Thus, a great research effort has been directed to this area in my lab in recent years. So far we have completed screening of a large group of diverse sorghum germplasm, which resulted in the identification of a few dozens of sources with genetic resistance to SCA. Subsequently, these new resistance sources are now being characterized to determine the inheritance of aphid resistance and the genetic base of the resistance. In addition, several resistance sources have been crossed into elite sorghum lines, including BTx623,for development of both mapping populations and breeding populations. Furthermore using genomic approach, several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with SCA resistance have been mapped on certain chromosomal regions of sorghum. Particularly one major resistance gene has been identified, which offers the genetic resistance to SCA. Meanwhile, we are also developing DNA markers that tightly linked to the resistance, and those markers can facilitate both marker-assisted breeding and molecular cloning of the SCA resistance genes in sorghum. In summary, the newly identified SCA resistance sources will be valuable to both sorghum breeders and producers. The genetic information about the SCA resistance will be shared with the sorghum research community. Finally, strategies to ensure aphid resistance effectiveness and durability will be discussed.