Expression profiling of three defense-related buffalograss transcripts in response to chinch bug feeding

This research used qRT-PCR to document the abundance of three defense-related transcripts, peroxidase, catalase, and GRAS, before and after chinch bug feeding on three resistant and three susceptible buffalograss genotypes. Basal levels of peroxidase, catalase, and GRAS transcripts were consistently higher in resistance genotypes suggesting important physiological differences between chinch bug resistant and susceptible buffalograsses. Furthermore, with respect to the peroxidase, catalase, and GRAS transcripts, infested and control buffalograss expression responded differentially to chinch bug feeding. Maintaining elevated basal levels of peroxidase, catalase, and GRAS, may better prepare resistant genotypes for biotic stresses. Transcriptional profiling of these defense-related transcripts supplies a baseline for screening additional buffalograsses for the presence and specific up-regulation of these genes, and provides valuable markers for identifying resistant genotypes.