Transcript profiling of wheat genes expressed during feeding by two different biotypes of Diuraphis noxia

Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov)(Russian wheat aphid) has severe economic impacts on wheat and barley production in the United States. The interaction between the Russian wheat aphid and its cereal hosts is poorly understood. However, the recent appearance of new biotypes in the United States showed that specific interactions exist between wheat resistance loci and Russian wheat aphid biotypes. At present, Dn7 is the only known gene in hexaploid wheat that confers resistance against all U.S. Russian wheat aphid biotypes. This study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism of Dn7-mediated resistance against two U.S. Russian wheat aphid biotypes (Russian wheat aphid 1 and Russian wheat aphid 2). Using GeneChip Wheat Genome Arrays, we compared transcript profiles of resistant and susceptible lines infested with either Russian wheat aphid 1 or Russian wheat aphid 2 using two time intervals (5 and 48 h after infestation). Russian wheat aphid feeding on hexaploid wheat led to the induction of groups of genes functioning in oxidative and general stress, photosynthesis, cell respiration and energy production, signal transduction, calcium-dependent signaling, pathogenesis related (PR) responses, and defense compound synthesis. The number of differentially expressed genes was higher in plants infested with Russian wheat aphid 1 compared with those infested with Russian wheat aphid 2. Although most genes involved in basic cellular functions were shared, unique genes were also obtained. This finding may indicate subtle differences in genes induced in response to different virulence proteins.