Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest

Authors: Sparks, Michael; Gundersen-Rindal, Dawn; Bansal, Raman; Oppert, Brenda; Poelchau, Monica; Childers, Christopher; Rhoades, Joshua; Velamuri, Arun; BENOIT, JOSHUA - University Of Cincinnati; CHAO, HSU - Baylor College Of Medicine; Blackburn, Michael - Mike; JOHNSTON, J.SPENCER - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: BMC Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2020
Publication Date: 3/14/2020
Citation: Sparks, M., Gundersen, D.E., Bansal, R., Oppert, B.S., Poelchau, M.F., Childers, C., Rhoades, J.H., Velamuri, A.S., Benoit, J.B., Chao, H., Blackburn, M.B., Johnston, J. 2020. Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest. BMC Genomics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-6510-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-6510-7

Interpretive Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a highly invasive insect species that is a nuisance due to overwintering in human-made structures. In recent years, this insect has caused significant economic losses in agricultural operations along the Atlantic seaboard of North America and in Continental Europe. H. halys has been particularly damaging to such orchard crops as apples and grapes, and is also capable of causing significant losses in such staple crops as corn and soybean. A genome sequence assembly and analysis of the brown marmorated stink bug, led by USDA-ARS researchers and involving numerous governmental and academic institutions spanning eight countries, has been conducted in a highly collaborative manner. This work has identified a wide variety of genetic elements responsible for the biological peculiarities of this formidable pest, including a highly expanded gustatory receptor repertoire likely responsible for the stink bug's very broad dietary preferences. Many of the genes surveyed in this study have potential future use in biomolecular pesticide applications.

Technical Abstract: Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug, is a highly invasive insect species that is also a nuisance due to overwintering in human-made structures. It has caused significant agricultural losses in recent years along the Atlantic seaboard of North America and in Continental Europe. Analysis of the 1.15 Gb genome assembly in a highly collaborative manner has identified a wide variety of genetic elements responsible for the biological peculiarities of this formidable pest species, including a highly expanded gustatory receptor repertoire likely responsible for H. halys' exceptionally high levels of polyphagy. Many of these genes may have potential for biomolecular pesticide applications. Availability of the H. halys genome sequence will be useful for the development of environmentally friendly biomolecular pesticides for use in concert with more traditional, synthetic chemical-based controls.