Determination of expressed transcripts based on comparative transcriptome sequence analysis of known Striga resistant and susceptible sorghum genotypes.

The aim of the current experiment was to determine transcriptomes of a sorghum cultivar N13 resistant to Striga hermonthica and a susceptible variety Hugurtay so that to identify the defferentially expressed genes and describe their putative function. Using Illumina short reads, transcriptomes of two sorghum varieties were investigated for which limited data was previously available.

Information on gene transcripts expressed in two growing phases of Striga hermonthica infection (attachment and in host development stages) is presented and the transcript levels were compared between these growing phases. The results indicated that 15 genes are expressed as a direct response to stimulus and to execute signaling within cells. Further analysis revealed overrepresentation of SORBI_3004G065900, SORBI_3001G482800, SORBI_3001G482700, SORBI_3001G077400 and SORBI_3001G259700 as a response to Striga wounding.