Singh Sanchita, Rahangdale Somnath, Pandita Shivali, Singh Manisha, Saxena Gauri, Jain Gourav, Verma Praveen C
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226001, India.
Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, India.
Protein J. 2025 Jun 6. doi: 10.1007/s10930-025-10269-6.
Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), commonly known as the cotton mealybug, is a highly invasive pest worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite posing a significant economic threat to various agricultural crops, a promising, environmentally friendly control strategy against this pest is lacking. Furthermore, the molecular aspects of this insect pest remain understudied. This pioneering study provides the first proteome data for four different developmental stages of the cotton mealybug. A comparative analysis of differential protein expression (DEPs) among six groups revealed the highest number of DEPs (550 up-regulated and 1118 down-regulated) when comparing the egg and first nymphal stages to the second nymphal instar (fold change ≥ 2, P < 0.05). From the generated proteomics data, potential target genes were identified for cotton mealybug management. These genes were further evaluated for RNAi-based pest control and optimization of the dsRNA delivery system in cotton mealybug. Notably, RNAi-based pest management analysis revealed that dsRNA of the Ferritin-like precursor (Psfer) gene (TRINITY_DN17055_c1_g1_i1) induced significant mortality (~ 69%), followed by dsRNA of the probable cytochrome P450 6a14-like (Psp450 6a14) gene (TRINITY_DN47081_c0_g1) and odorant-binding protein 2 precursor (Psobp) gene (TRINITY_DN11547_c0_g1). This investigation proposes a potential alternative, eco-friendly strategy for managing cotton mealybug populations and related pests. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights into the proteome of the cotton mealybug and Hemiptera, offering avenues for proteome-based identification of RNAi targets for pest management and crop improvement.
扶桑绵粉蚧（半翅目：粉蚧科），俗称棉粉蚧，是一种在全球范围内极具入侵性的害虫，尤其是在热带和亚热带地区。尽管它对各种农作物构成了重大经济威胁，但目前仍缺乏一种有前景的、环境友好的防治策略。此外，这种害虫的分子层面仍未得到充分研究。这项开创性研究提供了棉粉蚧四个不同发育阶段的首个蛋白质组数据。对六组之间的差异蛋白质表达（DEP）进行比较分析发现，将卵期和一龄若虫期与二龄若虫期进行比较时，差异蛋白质表达数量最多（上调550个，下调1118个）（倍数变化≥2，P<0.05）。从生成的蛋白质组学数据中，确定了用于棉粉蚧治理的潜在靶基因。这些基因进一步用于基于RNA干扰的害虫防治以及棉粉蚧双链RNA递送系统的优化。值得注意的是，基于RNA干扰的害虫治理分析表明，类铁蛋白前体（Psfer）基因（TRINITY_DN17055_c1_g1_i1）的双链RNA诱导了显著死亡率（约69%），其次是可能的细胞色素P450 6a14样（Psp450 6a14）基因（TRINITY_DN47081_c0_g1）和气味结合蛋白2前体（Psobp）基因（TRINITY_DN11547_c0_g1）的双链RNA。本研究提出了一种潜在的、生态友好的策略来管理棉粉蚧种群及相关害虫。此外，这项研究为棉粉蚧和半翅目的蛋白质组提供了有价值的见解，为基于蛋白质组学鉴定用于害虫治理和作物改良的RNA干扰靶标提供了途径。
