State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Institute of Rice, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350018, China.
Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2022 Dec;20(6):1092-1105. doi: 10.1016/j.gpb.2022.05.011. Epub 2022 Aug 28.
Tea green leafhopper (TGL), Empoasca onukii, is of biological and economic interest. Despite numerous studies, the mechanisms underlying its adaptation and evolution remain enigmatic. Here, we use previously untapped genome and population genetics approaches to examine how the pest adapted to different environmental variables and thus has expanded geographically. We complete a chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the E. onukii genome, showing notable expansions of gene families associated with adaptation to chemoreception and detoxification. Genomic signals indicating balancing selection highlight metabolic pathways involved in adaptation to a wide range of tea varieties grown across ecologically diverse regions. Patterns of genetic variations among 54 E. onukii samples unveil the population structure and evolutionary history across different tea-growing regions in China. Our results demonstrate that the genomic changes in key pathways, including those linked to metabolism, circadian rhythms, and immune system functions, may underlie the successful spread and adaptation of E. onukii. This work highlights the genetic and molecular basis underlying the evolutionary success of a species with broad economic impacts, and provides insights into insect adaptation to host plants, which will ultimately facilitate more sustainable pest management.
茶绿叶蝉（TGL），假眼小绿叶蝉（Empoasca onukii），具有生物学和经济学意义。尽管有许多研究，但它适应和进化的机制仍然是个谜。在这里，我们使用以前未开发的基因组和群体遗传学方法来研究害虫如何适应不同的环境变量，从而在地理上扩张。我们完成了 E. onukii 基因组的染色体水平组装和注释，显示出与化学感受和解毒适应相关的基因家族的显著扩张。表明平衡选择的基因组信号突出了参与适应在生态多样化地区种植的各种茶树品种的代谢途径。在中国不同产茶区的 54 个 E. onukii 样本中的遗传变异模式揭示了种群结构和进化历史。我们的结果表明，关键途径中的基因组变化，包括与代谢、昼夜节律和免疫系统功能相关的途径，可能是 E. onukii 成功传播和适应的基础。这项工作突出了具有广泛经济影响的物种进化成功的遗传和分子基础，并为昆虫对宿主植物的适应提供了见解，这最终将有助于更可持续的害虫管理。
