Gene expression involved in dark-induced leaf senescence in zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica)

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) is one of the important turfgrass species. Extending green period of zoysiagrass via delaying leaf senescence will make this species have more potential in the turfgrass industry. In this study, we found that zoysiagrass seedlings treated with GA3 could delay the leaf senescence induced by darkness. To study expression of genes responsive to staying green in zoysiagrass, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify differentially expressed genes between non-GA3-treated and GA3-treated seedlings subjected to darkness. A total of 307 ESTs were generated, of which 226 ESTs clustered into 54 contigs and 81 were singlets. Differentially expressed genes selected by subtractions were classified into six categories according to their putative functions generated by BLAST analysis. Expression of five selected genes, Met, SAM, V-ATPase, Cry (Cryptochrome gene), and An (diphthine synthase gene) were examined by RT-PCR and Real-time PCR. Both RT-PCR and Real-time PCR results demonstrated that the differential expressions of these genes were attributable to delaying senescence by exogenously applied gibberellic acid. This is the first genome-wide study of senescence in a species of turfgrass.