Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))

The sorghum aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner, 1897)), a globally destructive pest, severely compromises sorghum yield and quality. This study compared aphid-resistant (HX133) and aphid-susceptible (HX37) sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) cultivars, revea...

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Main Authors: Minghui Guan, Junli Du, Jieqin Li, Tonghan Wang, Lu Sun, Yongfei Wang, Degong Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/14/1502
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author Minghui Guan
Junli Du
Jieqin Li
Tonghan Wang
Lu Sun
Yongfei Wang
Degong Wu
author_facet Minghui Guan
Junli Du
Jieqin Li
Tonghan Wang
Lu Sun
Yongfei Wang
Degong Wu
author_sort Minghui Guan
collection DOAJ
description The sorghum aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner, 1897)), a globally destructive pest, severely compromises sorghum yield and quality. This study compared aphid-resistant (HX133) and aphid-susceptible (HX37) sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) cultivars, revealing that HX133 significantly suppressed aphid proliferation through repellent and antibiotic effects, while aphid populations increased continuously in HX37. Transcriptome analysis identified 2802 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 45.9% upregulated) in HX133 at 24 h post-infestation, in contrast with only 732 DEGs (21% upregulated) in HX37. Pathway enrichment highlighted shikimate-mediated phenylpropanoid/flavonoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism as central to HX133’s defense response, alongside photosynthesis-related pathways common to both cultivars. qRT-PCR validation confirmed activation of the shikimate pathway in HX133, driving the synthesis of dhurrin—a cyanogenic glycoside critical for aphid resistance—and other tyrosine-derived metabolites (e.g., benzyl isoquinoline alkaloids, tocopherol). These findings demonstrate that HX133 employs multi-layered metabolic regulation, particularly dhurrin accumulation, to counteract aphid infestation, whereas susceptible cultivars exhibit limited defense induction. This work provides molecular targets for enhancing aphid resistance in sorghum breeding programs.
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spelling doaj-art-017d3db4e35b4fcf95afa09ef5a328e22025-08-20T03:36:13ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-07-011514150210.3390/agriculture15141502Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))Minghui Guan0Junli Du1Jieqin Li2Tonghan Wang3Lu Sun4Yongfei Wang5Degong Wu6College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaAnhui Province International Joint Research Center of Forage Bio-Breeding, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaAnhui Province International Joint Research Center of Forage Bio-Breeding, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaAnhui Province International Joint Research Center of Forage Bio-Breeding, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Anhui Science and Technology University, Chuzhou 233100, ChinaThe sorghum aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner, 1897)), a globally destructive pest, severely compromises sorghum yield and quality. This study compared aphid-resistant (HX133) and aphid-susceptible (HX37) sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) cultivars, revealing that HX133 significantly suppressed aphid proliferation through repellent and antibiotic effects, while aphid populations increased continuously in HX37. Transcriptome analysis identified 2802 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 45.9% upregulated) in HX133 at 24 h post-infestation, in contrast with only 732 DEGs (21% upregulated) in HX37. Pathway enrichment highlighted shikimate-mediated phenylpropanoid/flavonoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism as central to HX133’s defense response, alongside photosynthesis-related pathways common to both cultivars. qRT-PCR validation confirmed activation of the shikimate pathway in HX133, driving the synthesis of dhurrin—a cyanogenic glycoside critical for aphid resistance—and other tyrosine-derived metabolites (e.g., benzyl isoquinoline alkaloids, tocopherol). These findings demonstrate that HX133 employs multi-layered metabolic regulation, particularly dhurrin accumulation, to counteract aphid infestation, whereas susceptible cultivars exhibit limited defense induction. This work provides molecular targets for enhancing aphid resistance in sorghum breeding programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/14/1502<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner)differentially expressed genetranscriptomeshikimic acid
spellingShingle Minghui Guan
Junli Du
Jieqin Li
Tonghan Wang
Lu Sun
Yongfei Wang
Degong Wu
Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
Agriculture
<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner)
differentially expressed gene
transcriptome
shikimic acid
title Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
title_full Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
title_fullStr Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
title_short Transcriptome Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Sorghum Lines to the Sorghum Aphid (<i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner))
title_sort transcriptome analysis of resistant and susceptible sorghum lines to the sorghum aphid i melanaphis sacchari i zehntner
topic <i>Melanaphis sacchari</i> (Zehntner)
differentially expressed gene
transcriptome
shikimic acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/14/1502
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