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Updated: May 8, 2026
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Obtaining High-Quality Transcriptome Data from Cereal Seeds by a Modified Method for Gene Expression Profiling
Published on: May 21, 2020
Transcriptome analysis of two buffalograss cultivars
Michael Wachholtz1, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Paul Twigg
1Department of Agronomy & Horticulture, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA. kamundsen2@unl.edu.
BMC Genomics
|September 13, 2013
Summary
This study expands buffalograss genomic resources using next-generation sequencing, identifying 325 differentially expressed genes between cultivars that may explain performance differences.
Area of Science:
- Plant Genomics
- Bioinformatics
- Turfgrass Science
Background:
- Buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides) is a native US turfgrass requiring less water and fewer chemicals.
- Limited genetic resources hinder the development of new buffalograss cultivars.
- High-throughput sequencing offers a method to expand these crucial genetic resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To significantly increase the genomic resources available for buffalograss research.
- To identify differentially expressed genes between buffalograss cultivars '378' and 'Prestige'.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and purification of total RNA from buffalograss leaf samples.
- High-throughput sequencing using Illumina GA and Roche 454 Titanium FLX platforms.
- De novo assembly of transcripts using Velvet and Oases, followed by read mapping for expression analysis.
Main Results:
- Assembly of 121,288 high-quality transcripts similar to Ensembl commelinid sequences.
- Identification of 325 differentially expressed genes between buffalograss cultivars '378' and 'Prestige'.
- Differentially expressed genes include those involved in defense response pathways, potentially explaining cultivar performance variations.
Conclusions:
- This marks the first high-throughput sequencing experiment for buffalograss, greatly enhancing its genetic resources.
- The identified differentially expressed genes provide insights into the performance and morphological differences between buffalograss cultivars.
- This foundational work supports future genetic studies and breeding efforts for buffalograss.
