Zhang Rong, Wang Jue, Zhang Yanlong, Wang Xizhuo, Zhang Zhen, Kong Xiangbo, Liu Fu, Fang Jiaxing, Zheng Yanan, Zhang Sufang
Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Insect Sci. 2025 Jun;32(3):881-898. doi: 10.1111/1744-7917.13431. Epub 2024 Aug 20.
Worldwide, pine forests have been threatened by a devastating pine wood disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, with Monochamus saltuarius being a newly recorded vector of the disease in Northeast China. The olfactory system plays important roles in both feeding and oviposition during the adult stage of M. saltuarius, and olfactory gene function research is essential for gaining an understanding of the olfactory mechanisms of this pest. However, there is limited information available regarding olfactory gene functions in this pest. In the present study, we selected 7 olfactory genes, including 2 chemosensory proteins, 2 odorant-binding proteins, the odorant co-receptor and 2 odorant receptors, which were relatively highly expressed during the adult stage. We silenced these genes by RNA interference (RNAi), and real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect their expression levels after double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection. The results indicate that these genes were significantly downregulated at 2 d post-dsRNA injection, and this was sustained until 5 d post-injection. Electroantennography tests indicated that the knockdown of MsalOBP14 and MsalOrco impaired the olfactory response of M. saltuarius to 11 host volatiles and 1 sex pheromone compound. Y-tube experiments further confirmed that downregulated MsalOBP14 and MsalOrco expression led to olfactory dysfunction in M. saltuarius, which significantly lost selectivity. The results indicate that MsalOBP14 and MsalOrco play critical roles in sex communication and host volatile detection in M. saltuarius, and possibly represent 2 effective targets for controlling this forest pest through olfactory disruption.
在全球范围内，松林受到由松材线虫引起的毁灭性松材病害的威胁，在东北地区，松墨天牛是该病害新记录的传播媒介。嗅觉系统在松墨天牛成虫阶段的取食和产卵过程中均发挥着重要作用，嗅觉基因功能研究对于理解这种害虫的嗅觉机制至关重要。然而，关于这种害虫嗅觉基因功能的信息有限。在本研究中，我们选择了7个嗅觉基因，包括2个化学感受蛋白、2个气味结合蛋白、气味共同受体和2个气味受体，这些基因在成虫阶段表达相对较高。我们通过RNA干扰（RNAi）使这些基因沉默，并使用实时定量PCR检测双链RNA（dsRNA）注射后它们的表达水平。结果表明，这些基因在dsRNA注射后2天显著下调，并持续至注射后5天。触角电位测试表明，MsalOBP14和MsalOrco的敲低削弱了松墨天牛对11种寄主挥发物和1种性信息素化合物的嗅觉反应。Y形管实验进一步证实，MsalOBP14和MsalOrco表达下调导致松墨天牛嗅觉功能障碍，其选择性显著丧失。结果表明，MsalOBP14和MsalOrco在松墨天牛的性通讯和寄主挥发物检测中起关键作用，可能是通过嗅觉干扰控制这种森林害虫的两个有效靶点。
