Comparative transcriptomic assessment of the chemosensory receptor repertoire of Drosophila suzukii adult and larval olfactory organs

Authors: Walker, William; MORI, BOYD - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences; CATTANEO, ALBERTO - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences; GONZALEZ, FRANCISCO - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences; WITZGALL, PETER - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences; BECHER, PAUL - Swedish University Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D: Genomics and Proteomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2022
Publication Date: 12/6/2022
Citation: Walker III, W.B., Mori, B.A., Cattaneo, A.M., Gonzalez, F., Witzgall, P., Becher, P. 2022. Comparative transcriptomic assessment of the chemosensory receptor repertoire of Drosophila suzukii adult and larval olfactory organs. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D: Genomics and Proteomics. 45. Article 101049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2022.101049.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2022.101049

Interpretive Summary: The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a globally invasive insect pest to several fruit crops around the world. A better understanding of the basic biology of SWD could lead to novel ways to control this pest by disrupting important behaviors, which are largely regulated by the sense of smell. Sensory detection of odors from the environment result in activation of behavioral responses. Odorant detection is primarily mediated by three families of proteins, primarily the odorant receptors, as well as the gustatory and ionotropic receptors. Researchers at the USDA-ARS in Wapato, WA and at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences studied gene expression of the three families of sensory receptors identified from SWD. They discovered that different receptor types from the three families are present and functional during the adult and larval life stages. These results will allow the researchers to find ways target and block receptors that are specifically active during the adult stage to be able to influence or manipulate SWD behavior in the orchards and fields as a novel way to control SWD.

Technical Abstract: The spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has emerged within the past decade as an invasive species on a global scale. Unlike most other Drosophild species, D. suzukii is one of the most significant economic pests in fruit and berry production in Europe and North America. Insect ecology is, to a strong degree, influenced by the chemosensory modalities of smell and taste. Extensive research on the molecular underpinnings of the olfactory and gustatory senses in Drosophila melanogaster provide an excellent frame of reference to better understand the fundamentals of the chemosensory systems of D. suzukii. This knowledge will enhance the development of semiochemicals for sustainable management of D. suzukii, which is urgently needed. Here, using a transcriptomic approach we report the chemosensory receptor expression profiles in D. suzukii female and male antennae, and for the first time, in larval heads including the dorsal organ that houses larval olfactory sensory neurons. Within D. suzukii adults, we observed a general lack of sexually dimorphic expression levels in male and female antennae. While there was a general conservation of antennal expression of odorant and ionotropic receptor orthologues for D. melanogaster and D. suzukii, gustatory receptors showed more distinct species-specific profiles. In larval head tissues, for all three receptor gene families, there was a greater degree of species-specific expression patterns of gene orthologues. Analysis of chemosensory receptor repertoires in the invasive pest species, D.suzukii relative to those of the genetic model D. melanogaster enables comparative studies of the chemosensory, physiology, and ecology of D. suzukii.