Identification and Expression Profiles of Chemosensory Genes in the Antennal Transcriptome of (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Chemosensory systems play a pivotal role in insect survival and reproduction by mediating the detection of volatile organic compounds in the environment. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), a phytophagous pest widely distributed across East Asia, poses a significant threat to agro-horticultural systems through crop damage. We conducted antennal transcriptome sequencing of adult beetles and identified 117 chemosensory-related genes, including 66 odorant receptors (ORs), 20 ionotropic receptors, 10 gustatory receptors, 13 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), four chemosensory proteins, and four sensory neuron membrane proteins. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed the antennal enrichment of five PbreOBP genes and twenty-three ORs. Notably, sexual dimorphism was observed in OR expression patterns. exhibited male-biased antennal expression, whereas demonstrated female-biased antennal expression, indicating their potential involvement in sex-specific behaviors, such as pheromone detection and oviposition site selection. A comprehensive description of the antenna chemosensory-related genes of has deepened our understanding of the olfactory mechanisms in coleopteran insects. This study also provides a basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying olfaction in .