Comparative analyses of transcriptional responses of Dectes texanus LeConte (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae fed on three different host plants and artificial diet

Abstract

Dectes texanus is an important coleopteran pest of soybeans and cultivated sunflowers in the Midwestern United States that causes yield losses by girdling stems of their host plants. Although sunflower and giant ragweed are primary hosts of D. texanus, they began colonizing soybeans approximately 50 years ago and no reliable management method has been established to prevent or reduce losses by this pest. To identify genes putatively involved when feeding soybean, we compared gene expression of D. texanus third-instar larvae fed soybean to those fed sunflower, giant ragweed, or artificial diet. Dectes texanus larvae differentially expressed 514 unigenes when fed on soybean compared to those fed the other diet treatments. Enrichment analyses of gene ontology terms from up-regulated unigenes in soybean-fed larvae compared to those fed both primary hosts highlighted unigenes involved in oxidoreductase and polygalacturonase activities. Cytochrome P450s, carboxylesterases, major facilitator superfamily transporters, lipocalins, apolipoproteins, glycoside hydrolases 1 and 28, and lytic monooxygenases were among the most commonly up-regulated unigenes in soybean-fed larvae compared to those fed their primary hosts. These results suggest that D. texanus larvae differentially expressed unigenes involved in biotransformation of allelochemicals, digestion of plant cell walls and transport of small solutes and lipids when feeding in soybean.

Dynamics of gut microflora across the life cycle ofSpodoptera frugiperdaand its effects on the feeding and growth of larvae

“…The study of insects and symbiotic intestinal microbes provides a basis for subsequent functional studies. 17,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The gut microbiome can be influenced by external environmental factors such as weather, temperature, and other factors such as antibiotics. [33][34][35] There were significant differences in microbial communities at different developmental stages of insects such as G. molesta, Heliothis virescens, Nilaparvata lugens and Zeugodacus tau.…”

“…Studies have been conducted in bees and termites in Hymenoptera, fruit flies and mosquitoes in Diptera, Dectes texanus in Coleoptera, and in the Lepidopteran pests Grapholita molesta , Carposina sasakii , Cydia pomonella , Spodoptera litura , Lymantria dispar , Manduca sexta , Helicoverpa armigera , Plutella xylostella and S. frugiperda . The study of insects and symbiotic intestinal microbes provides a basis for subsequent functional studies 17,20–32 …”

Comparison of Gut Bacterial Communities of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Reared on Different Host Plants

“…In recent years, more insect microbial communities have been discovered and studied. Studies have been reported in honeybees [34][35][36][37], fruit flies [38][39][40], mosquitoes [41,42], Dectes texanus [43], and termites [44,45], as well as in lepidopteran pests, such as Grapholita molesta [18,[46][47][48], Carposina sasakii [46,47], and Cydia pomonella [47]. The gut microbial community of the honeybee has stable species and structure, and there are many unique microbial types in different regions of Apis mellifera.…”

“…Flexible changes in the gut microbial community may be due to diverse feeding [49]. Compared with D. texanus fed on different hosts, 514 unigenes were differentially expressed in larvae feeding on soybeans [43]. Host specificity in biodiversity highlights the different degrees and interactive diversity across the levels of biodiversity in the system.…”

A draft Diabrotica virgifera virgifera genome: insights into control and host plant adaption by a major maize pest insect

“…Interestingly, detoxification was not among the overrepresented GO terms associated with transcripts upregulated following 12-h exposures to maize compared to other plant exposures, in contrast to predictions in other insect species [15,[124][125][126][127][128]. Regardless, 50 P450s were predicted with a majority being up-regulated (78%) or putatively belonging to clan CYP6.…”