Exploring the role of the ovary-serine protease gene in the female fertility of the diamondback moth using CRISPR/Cas9.

Background: Oogenesis is a complex pathway necessary for proper female reproduction in insects. Ovary-serine protease (Osp) is a homologous gene of serine protease Nudel (SpNudel) and plays an essential role in the oogenesis and ovary development of Drosophila melanogaster. However, the function of Osp is not determined in Plutella xylostella, a highly destructive pest of cruciferous crops.

The Potential Role of the Gene in the Development and Reproduction of .

Piwi proteins play a significant role in germ cell development and the silencing of transposons in animals by associating with small non-coding RNAs known as Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). While the gene has been well characterized in various insect species, the role of the () gene in the diamondback moth (), a globally distributed pest of cruciferous crops, remains unclear. Expression analysis demonstrated the upregulation of in pupae and testes.