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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #358630
Title: Jinggangmycin-induced UDP-glycosyltransferase 1-2-like is a positive modulator of fecundity and population growth in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Author
item GE, LINQAN - Yangzhou University
item ZHENG, SUI - Yangzhou University
item GU, HAO-TIAN - Yangzhou University
item ZHOU, YONGKAI - Yangzhou University
item ZHOU, ZE - Yangzhou University
item SONG, QISHENG - University Of Missouri
item Stanley, David

Submitted to: Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2019
Publication Date: 6/21/2019
Citation: Ge, L., Zheng, S., Gu, H., Zhou, Y., Zhou, Z., Song, Q., Stanley, D.W. 2019. Jinggangmycin-induced UDP-glycosyltransferase 1-2-like is a positive modulator of fecundity and population growth in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Frontiers in Physiology. 10:747. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00747.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00747

Interpretive Summary: Long-term agricultural sustainability is severely threatened by widespread use of classical insecticides. Threats include increasing resistance to insecticides and sharply decreasing environmental quality. These issues drive research into alternatives to classical insecticides. One potential alternative is based on applying molecular tools to inhibit expression of genes that are crucial to insect pest biology. In this paper, we examined the impact of inhibiting a specific gene responsible for production of proteins necessary for successful reproduction in a pest insect species. We found that inhibiting this gene in females led to reduced gene expression, ovarian development, and egg-laying. These findings drive on-going research into the possibilities of appling molecular methods to develop novel pest management technologies.

Technical Abstract: UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), as multifunctional detoxification enzymes are omnipresent within living organisms, responsible for biotransformation of various lipophilic endogenous compounds and phytoalexins in insects. However, the implication of this enzyme family in fecundity of insects remains largely unraveled. Here, the underlying mechanisms by which UGT12 involved in Jinggangmycin-enhanced fecundity were investigated. JGM-induced NlUGT12 drived fecundity and population growth via promoting JH III titer and Vg synthesis. As JGM+dsUGT12 treatments led to reduced number of eggs laid, oviposition period, JHIII titers, protein content of fat body and ovary, and population growth, as well as under-developed ovary. Application of 100 ng/µL methoprene on the JGM+dsUGT12 treated-females partially rescued the NlVg, NlUGT12 expression, and Vg synthesis. The present results revealed that NlUGT12 may modulate fecundity and population growth of Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). These findings not only enlighten the mechanisms underlying pesticide-induced pest resurgence, but also yield a novel target for promising pest management.