Abstract
To generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), we constructed seven directional cDNA libraries from mRNA prepared from various tissues (leaf, stem, inflorescence, and callus) and leaves under abiotic and biotic stresses such as heat-shock, cold-shock, and powdery-mildew (Blumeria graminis) infection. Clones were randomly selected from each library, and their 5 ends were sequenced to identify their putative functions. Out of 6751 sequences, 5922 (87.7%) were usable for database comparisons. Of these, 3244 clones (54.8%) showed sequence similarity with known genes from plants and other organisms. Analysis of the putative functions of these ESTs indicated that each of the seven cDNA libraries uniquely reflected the biological function and physiological status of their mRNA source. These results indicate that these ESTs will be useful resource for rapid gene identification and gene expression profiling in Italian ryegrass, and will facilitate genomics research of Italian ryegrass as well as other forage crops.
