Functional characterization of a novel terpene synthase GaTPS1 involved in (E)-α-bergamotene biosynthesis in Gossypium arboreum.

Terpenoids in plants are mainly synthesized by terpene synthases (TPSs), which play an important role in plant-environment interactions. Gossypium arboreum is one of the important cotton cultivars with excellent pest resistance, however, the biosynthesis of most terpenoids in this plant remains unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of leaves from intact and Helicoverpa armigera-infested cotton plants.

Two Structural Analogs of Kairomones are Detected by an Odorant Receptor HvarOR28 in the Coccinellid .

In natural environments, general plant volatiles and herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) serve as critical clues for predatory natural enemies in the search for prey. The insect olfactory system plays a vital role in perceiving plant volatiles including HIPVs. In this study, we found that HIPV (,)-4,8,12-trimethyl-1,3,7,11-tridecatetraene (TMTT) and the plant volatile geranyl acetate (GA), two structurally similar chemicals, displayed electrophysiological activities on the antennae of the ladybird , but were only attractive to adult females in behavior.

Female-Biased Odorant Receptor MmedOR48 in the Parasitoid Broadly Tunes to Plant Volatiles.

Odorant receptors (ORs) play a crucial role in insect chemoreception. Here, a female-biased odorant receptor MmedOR48 in parasitoid was fully functionally characterized. The qPCR analysis suggested that the expression level of 48 increased significantly after adult emergence and was expressed much more in the antennae.

Engineering DMNT emission in cotton enhances direct and indirect defense against mirid bugs.

Introduction: As an important herbivore-induced plant volatile, (3E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) is known for its defensive role against multiple insect pests, including attracting natural enemies. A terpene synthase (GhTPS14) and two cytochrome P450 (GhCYP82L1, GhCYP82L2) enzymes are involved in the de novo synthesis of DMNT in cotton. We conducted a study to test the potential of manipulating DMNT-synthesizing enzymes to enhance plant resistance to insects.

Knockout of the delta11-desaturase SfruDES1 disrupts sex pheromone biosynthesis, mating and oviposition in the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

Moth insects rely on sex pheromones for long distance attraction and searching for sex partners. The biosynthesis of moth sex pheromones involves the catalytic action of multiple enzymes, with desaturases playing a crucial role in the process of carbon chain desaturation. However, the specific desaturases involved in sex pheromone biosynthesis in fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, have not been clarified.

Volatiles from cotton aphid () infested plants attract the natural enemy .

The is a major threat of cotton worldwide due to its short life cycle and rapid reproduction. Chemical control is the primary method used to manage the cotton aphid, which has significant environmental impacts. Therefore, prioritizing eco-friendly alternatives is essential for managing the cotton aphid.

n-octyl acrylate is a candidate sex pheromone component involved in courtship in parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator.

Sex pheromones are considered to play critical roles in partner communication of most parasitic Hymenoptera. However, the identification of sex pheromone components remains limited to a few families of parasitoid wasps. In this study, we functionally characterized a candidate sex pheromone component in Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary parasitoid of Noctuidae insects.

Loss of Binding Capabilities in an Ecologically Important Odorant Receptor of the Fall Armyworm, , by a Single Point Mutation.

Olfaction plays a crucial role in locating food sources, mates, and spawning sites in the fall armyworm (FAW), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). In the current study, SfruOR14, a highly conserved odorant receptor (OR) in lepidopteran species, was newly uncovered in . In two-electrode voltage clamp recordings, the SfruOR14/Orco complex was narrowly tuned to six volatile compounds including phenylacetaldehyde (PAA), benzaldehyde, heptaldehyde, ()-2-hexen-1-al, cinnamaldehyde, and 2-phenylethanol, among which PAA showed the strongest binding affinity.

Long-term insect censuses capture progressive loss of ecosystem functioning in East Asia.

Insects provide critical ecosystem services such as biological pest control, in which natural enemies (NE) regulate the populations of crop-feeding herbivores (H). While H-NE dynamics are routinely studied at small spatiotemporal scales, multiyear assessments over entire agrolandscapes are rare. Here, we draw on 18-year radar and searchlight trapping datasets (2003-2020) from eastern Asia to (i) assess temporal population trends of 98 airborne insect species and (ii) characterize the associated H-NE interplay.

Odorant-Binding Protein 5 in Ladybird Regulates the Perception of Semiochemicals from Preys and Habitat Plants.

A total of 12 OBPs were identified in the antennae of ladybird . 1/2/5/6/10/11 were highly expressed in adults, whereas 3/4/7/8/9/12 had higher expression levels in larvae. In adults, 1/2/4/5/6/7/8/11/12 were highly expressed in antennae.

A female-biased odorant receptor tuned to the lepidopteran sex pheromone in parasitoid Microplitis mediator guiding habitat of host insects.

Introduction: The parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator is an important natural enemy of the turnip moth Agrotis segetum and other Noctuidae pests. In our field observation, it was fortuitously discovered that sex pheromone traps used for A. segetum also attract female wasps, verified by a simulated field condition dual-choice laboratory assay.

Plant volatile ligands for male-biased MmedOBP14 stimulate orientation behavior of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator.

As an important class of chemosensory-associated proteins, odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play a key role in the perception of olfactory signals for insects. Parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator relies on its sensitive olfactory system to locate host larvae of Noctuidae and Geometridae. In the present study, MmedOBP14, a male-biased OBP in M.

Identification and functional analysis of odorant-binding proteins provide new control strategies for Apolygus lucorum.

The green bug Apolygus lucorum is a notorious pest that feeds on multiple crops, including fruit trees, vegetables, and cotton. The odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are considered to perform crucial roles in regulating A. lucorum behaviors such as mating and feeding.

The microRNAs in the antennae of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae): Expression properties and targets prediction.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and contribute to numerous physiological processes. However, little is known about the functions of miRNAs in insect chemosensation. In this study, nine small RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced from the antennae of nymphs, adult males, and adult females of Apolygus lucorum.

Identification and Tissue Expression Profiles of Odorant Receptor Genes in the Green Peach Aphid .

The green peach aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) relies heavily on its olfactory system to locate plant hosts, find mates, and avoid parasitoids or predators. The insect odorant receptors (ORs) have been proven to play a critical role in the perception of odorants from the environment. In the present study, 33 odorant receptor candidate genes including the Orco gene were identified from the antennal, head, legs and body transcriptomes of .

Antenna-Biased Odorant Receptor HvarOR25 in Tuned to Allelochemicals from Hosts and Habitat Involved in Perceiving Preys.

Odorant receptors (ORs) of ladybird play vital chemosensory roles in searching and locating preys. In the current study, 37 ORs were initially identified from the antennal transcriptome of . The quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that several including were specific or enriched in ladybird antennae.

Functional Characterization of a Candidate Sex Pheromone Receptor AlinOR33 Involved in the Chemoreception of .

Sex pheromones are deemed to play a significant role in sexual communication of most insects. Although many sex pheromone components in mirid bugs have been identified, the roles of odorant receptors in sex pheromone perception in (Hemiptera: Miridae) remain unknown so far. Here, AlinOR33, a candidate sex pheromone receptor in was functionally characterized.

Identification and Evaluation of Suitable Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Under Different Biotic and Abiotic Conditions.

Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an accurate and convenient technique for quantifying expression levels of the target genes. Selection of the appropriate reference gene is of the vital importance for RT-qPCR analysis. is one of the most important predatory natural enemies of aphids.

Host plants transfer induced regulation of the chemosensory genes repertoire in the alfalfa plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze).

The alfalfa plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus, an economically important pest, has representative behavioral characteristics with host plants transfer. Olfactory system is essential for insects to perceive ever-changing chemical signals in the external environment, and chemosensory genes play crucial roles in signals reception and transduction. In this work, we compared the differences in chemosensory genes expression before and after host plants transfer by constructing 12 antennal transcriptomes of male and female bugs, respectively.

Prior Experience with Food Reward Influences the Behavioral Responses of the Honeybee and the Bumblebee to Tomato Floral Scent.

Bee responses to floral scent are usually influenced by both innate biases and prior experience. Honeybees are less attracted than bumblebees to tomato flowers. However, little is known about how tomato floral scent regulates the foraging behaviors of honeybees and bumblebees.

Broadly Tuned Odorant Receptor AlinOR59 Involved in Chemoreception of Floral Scent in .

Plant volatiles such as floral scent compounds play a crucial role in mediating insect host locating, mate search, and oviposition sites selection. The alfalfa plant bug, (Goeze), is a seriously polyphagous herbivore of alfalfa and cotton that has an obvious preference for flowering host plants. In this study, we focused on the role of an odorant receptor AlinOR59 in the perception of plant volatiles in .

Characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding single-strand RNA molecules encoded by endogenous genes, are about 21-24 nucleotides long and are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. Generally, the types and quantities of miRNAs in the different tissues of an organism are diverse, and these divergences may be related to their specific functions. Here we have identified 296 known miRNAs and 46 novel miRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator by high-throughput sequencing.

Identification of Leg Chemosensory Genes and Sensilla in the .

(Hemiptera: Miridae), one of the main insect pests, causes severe damage in cotton and many other economic crops. As is well-known, legs play important roles in the chemoreception of insects. In this study, the putative chemosensory proteins in legs of involved in close or contact chemical communication of adult bugs were investigated using RNA transcriptome sequencing and qPCR methods.

Functional characterization of one sex pheromone receptor (AlucOR4) in Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür).

Traps baited with female-produced sex pheromones have been very effective in the monitoring and management of mirid bugs in numerous field trials. However, none of the target odorant receptors for sex pheromone components in Apolygus lucorum have been identified. Here, we identified one candidate sex pheromone receptor, AlucOR4, from A.

Deorphanization of an odorant receptor revealed new bioactive components for green mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Background: The Apolygus lucorum is one of the most destructive insect pests in China with a wide range of host plants. Interaction of A. lucorum with surrounding environment heavily relies on chemical communication.