Identification of genes potentially related to herbivore resistance in OPR3 overexpression rice by microarray analysis

• We found 344 up- and 171 down-regulated genes in JA accumulating rice plants.
• Most defense-related genes are responsive to JA.
• DNA repair and proliferation genes are enhanced only in the OPR3ox rice line.

Cis-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) reductase 3 (OPR3) is a key enzyme in the jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis pathway. The OPR3 transcription level can be up-regulated by JA treatment, or by the rice striped stem borer's (SSB) feeding or mechanical wounding. To discover what facilitates defense functions in the JA pathway, we conducted a microarray analysis of OPR3 overexpressing rice plants (OPR3ox) and the wild-type Zhonghua 11. In total, 344 up- and 171 down-regulated genes were detected in OPR3ox plants. Of these, 67 genes were defense-related, and their expression patterns were consistent with JA, SSB or wounding treatments. Additionally, 61 DNA repair- and proliferation-related genes were detected among the OPR3ox up-regulated genes. However, most of these genes were down-regulated after JA, SSB, or wounding treatment. These genes may also have led to SSB resistance in the OPR3ox plants. Our results will help to further analyze the JA-mediated plant defense-response pathway and develop novel strategies to protect rice against biotic stresses.