Title : Argonaute 5 (TaAGO5) gene functions in wheat - Russian wheat aphid interaction
Abstract:
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most dominant crops for human and livestock feed. Yields of wheat have declined worldwide due to pathogens and pests. Diuraphis noxia Kurdjomov, Hemiptera, Aphididae is one of the most devastating aphid pests affecting wheat cultivation in South Africa and other regions. Studies on small RNA that regulate genes imparting resistance to wheat against Diuraphis noxia have predicted an Argonaute 5 (TaAGO5) gene as a possible role player in the resistance response. Functional characterization revealed that TaAGO5 is crucial in regulating the response to infestation by Diuraphis noxia. Knockdown of TaAGO5 by 22% in Diuraphis noxia resistant wheat resulted in a completely susceptible phenotype. The fecundity and stress levels of Diuraphis noxia feeding on these silenced plants were similar to aphids feeding on the susceptible controls. Thus, TaAGO5 is crucial in the defense response by wheat plants during aphid feeding and this is similar to Nicotiana benthaminia plants experiencing arthropod herbivory. Additionally, TaAGO5 was differentially regulated by the Barley Mosaic Virus (BMV) used in the functional characterization. This provides evidence that TaAGO5 could play a role during virus infection of wheat. The role of AGO5 proteins in plant responses to arthropod herbivory and virus infection is known for dicotyledonous plants. Here, we present data that indicate that this role of TaAGO5 is conserved in wheat and possibly for monocotyledonous plants. These observations extend our knowledge on the roles of AGO proteins in plant resistance.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- The audience will be able to adopt and use the Virus-induced gene silencing method that I learned from this study. They will be able to silence genes and determine their functions in plants.
- This study will help those who are interested in plant-pest interaction and want to know which genes are involved in the defense during the interaction. This study will also benefit those who are in plant breeding.
- This study will help them to understand which genes are regulated during wheat-Russian wheat aphid interaction. This will help them to understand the interaction better and develop cultivars which are more resistant to insects.
- This research can be used by other faculties to expand their research especially those who are working on plant biochemistry. They can use this study to understand the mechanisms that take place during plant- insect interaction.
- This study used the VIGS method to silence genes. This method is an effective tool for gene function analysis in plants. It is easy to perform this technique and is not that expensive.
- This study provides new information on gene silencing in monocotyledonous plants.
