The transcriptional responses of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) to yellow sugarcane aphid (Sipha flava (Forbes)) herbivory

Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., is a perennial plant native to North America that is being developed as a potential bioenergy feedstock. A number of aphids, including greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) and yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava (Forbes), have been identified as potential pests of switchgrass. Feeding by these insects on plants can elicit stress-related responses such as an increase in the expression levels of peroxidases, catalases, reactive oxygen species, WKRYs, and cytochrome P450s. Gene expression studies were completed in the upland, tetraploid switchgrass cultivar Summer using qPCR analysis to observe differential gene expression during yellow sugarcane aphid infestation. Genes of interest were identified from previous Illumina^® data involving greenbug-switchgrass interactions. Genes found to be differentially expressed included WKRYs, cytochrome P450s, and pathogenesis related proteins at the observed time points. These data provide valuable insight into the regulation of select defense related genes in switchgrass during yellow sugarcane aphid infestation.