The genome of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Adaptation for success

Authors: Oppert, Brenda; MUSZEWSKA, ANNA - Polish Academy Of Sciences; STECZKIEWICZ, KAMIL - University Of Warsaw; ŠATOVIC-VUKŠIC, EVA - Ruder Boskovic Institute; PLOHL, MIROSLAV - Ruder Boskovic Institute; Fabrick, Jeffrey; VINOKUROV, KONSTANTIN - Czech Academy Of Sciences; KOLONIUK, IGOR - Czech Academy Of Sciences; JOHNSTON, J. SPENCER - Texas A&M University; Smith, Timothy - Tim; GUEDES, RAUL N. - Universidade Federal De Vicosa; TERRA, WALTER - Universidad De Sao Paulo; FERREIRA, CLÉLIA - Universidade De Sao Paulo; DIAS, RENATA - Federal University Of Goias; CHAPLY, KONSTANTIN - Moscow State University; ELPIDINA, ELENA - Moscow State University; TERESHCHENKOVA, VALERIIA - Moscow State University; MITCHELL, MITCHELL - University Of Wisconsin; JENSON, AUDRA - University Of Wisconsin; MCKAY, RACHEL - University Of Wisconsin; SHAN, TISHENG - Oklahoma State University; CAO, XIAOLONG - Oklahoma State University; XIONG, CHAO - Oklahoma State University; JIANG, HAOBO - Oklahoma State University; Morrison, William - Rob; KOREN, SERGEY - National Institutes Of Health (NIH); SCHLIPALIUS, DAVID - University Of Queensland; LORENZEN, MARCÉ - North Carolina State University; Bansal, Raman; WANG, YU-HUI - North Carolina State University; Perkin, Lindsey; POELCHEAU, MONICA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); Friesen, Kenlee - Ken; Olmstead, Morgan; Scully, Erin; Campbell, James - Jim

Submitted to: Genes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2022
Publication Date: 2/28/2022
Citation: Oppert, B.S., Muszewska, A., Steczkiewicz, K., Šatovic-Vukšic, E., Plohl, M., Fabrick, J.A., Vinokurov, K.S., Koloniuk, I., Johnston, J., Smith, T.P., Guedes, R.C., Terra, W.R., Ferreira, C., Dias, R.O., Chaply, K.A., Elpidina, E.N., Tereshchenkova, V., Mitchell, M.F., Jenson, A.J., Mckay, R., Shan, T., Cao, X., Xiong, C., Jiang, H., Morrison III, W.R., Koren, S., Schlipalius, D., Lorenzen, M.D., Bansal, R., Wang, Y., Perkin, L.C., Poelcheau, M., Friesen, K.S., Olmstead, M.L., Scully, E.D., Campbell, J.F., et al. 2022. The genome of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Adaptation for success. Genes. 13(3). Article 446. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13030446.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13030446

Interpretive Summary: The lesser grain borer is a major pest of grain worldwide, and insecticide-resistant borer populations threaten the effectiveness of current control products. We sequenced the genome of this grain borer to understand how genes connect to biology so that better control products can be developed. We describe the lesser grain borer genome assembly, and we discuss how selected groups of genes are related to the biology of this insect. The information will be used to develop more effective control products for the lesser grain borer, including those insecticide-resistant populations.

Technical Abstract: Background: The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), is a major global pest of cereal grains. These beetles are difficult to control with insecticides as the larvae feed inside grain kernels, and many populations are resistant to both contact and fumigation insecticides. We sequenced the genome of R. dominica to enable the identification of genes responsible for important biological functions that can be used to develop more targeted and efficacious management strategies. Results: The genome of R. dominica was sequenced by long read and long-range technologies. The genome assembly is 479.1 Mb, close to the predicted genome size of 480.4 Mb by flow cytometry. The assembly consists of 139 scaffolds, with an N50 of 53.6 Mb and L50 of 4, indicating that the assembly contains chromosome-scale scaffolds. Predicted genes from biologically relevant groups were manually annotated using transcriptome data from adults and different larval tissues to guide decision making. Conclusions: Our data suggest that larvae feeding within the grain may have avoided selection pressure on insecticide detoxification genes such as ABCC transporters and carboxylesterases. Detailed analysis of a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin binding protein provided insight into the potential mechanism of the differential toxicity of Cry toxins in coleopterans. A comprehensive analysis of chemoreceptor genes in R. dominica will be used in the fine tuning of monitoring and trap management of R dominica. Finally, analysis of genes encoding serine peptidases, exopeptidases, carbohydrases, and a proline-specific peptidase suggest that they combine to enable efficient digestion of cereal proteins.