{"title":"Dual function of the Tuta absoluta 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 in pupa ecdysis and adult reproduction","authors":"Shu-Yan Yan, Jia-Hui Song, Wen-Jia Yang, Wan-xue Liu, Gui-Fen Zhang, Fang-Hao Wan, Nicolas Desneux, Yi-Bo Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10340-024-01839-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase PDK, a key component of the insulin signaling pathway, plays an important role in the regulation of insect growth and development. However, the functional significance of the <i>PDK</i> gene in <i>Tuta absoluta</i>, a destructive invasive tomato leaf miner, remains unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized a <i>PDK</i> gene (designated <i>TaPDK</i>) and analyzed its physiological roles in molting and reproduction of <i>T. absoluta</i>. Our results showed that the <i>TaPDK</i> expression levels were elevated in the 5- and 6-day-old pupae before ecdysis and declined immediately after eclosion. <i>TaPDK</i> was predominantly expressed in the head, midgut and abdomen. When the <i>TaPDK</i> was knockdown, the larval-pupal molting and female reproduction were severely affected. Injecting dsRNA of <i>TaPDK</i> into 2-day-old female pupae resulted in severe phenotypic changes (cuticular shrinkage) in 31.29% of pupae, ultimately leading to death. Knockdown of <i>TaPDK</i> significantly reduced the 20E titer and chitin content and downregulated the expression levels of genes involved in the 20E pathway and chitin metabolism. Further investigation revealed that the suppression of <i>TaPDK</i> impaired ovarian development, resulting in significantly reduced fecundity and hatchability. In addition, the JH titer and vitellogenin content of <i>TaPDK</i>-deficient females were reduced, and the expression of <i>Vg</i>, <i>VgR</i>, and JH signaling pathway genes were significantly decreased. Collectively, our study provides a deep insight into the PDK-mediated regulation of pupal ecdysis and female reproduction in <i>T. absoluta</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":16736,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pest Science","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Pest Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-024-01839-1","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase PDK, a key component of the insulin signaling pathway, plays an important role in the regulation of insect growth and development. However, the functional significance of the PDK gene in Tuta absoluta, a destructive invasive tomato leaf miner, remains unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized a PDK gene (designated TaPDK) and analyzed its physiological roles in molting and reproduction of T. absoluta. Our results showed that the TaPDK expression levels were elevated in the 5- and 6-day-old pupae before ecdysis and declined immediately after eclosion. TaPDK was predominantly expressed in the head, midgut and abdomen. When the TaPDK was knockdown, the larval-pupal molting and female reproduction were severely affected. Injecting dsRNA of TaPDK into 2-day-old female pupae resulted in severe phenotypic changes (cuticular shrinkage) in 31.29% of pupae, ultimately leading to death. Knockdown of TaPDK significantly reduced the 20E titer and chitin content and downregulated the expression levels of genes involved in the 20E pathway and chitin metabolism. Further investigation revealed that the suppression of TaPDK impaired ovarian development, resulting in significantly reduced fecundity and hatchability. In addition, the JH titer and vitellogenin content of TaPDK-deficient females were reduced, and the expression of Vg, VgR, and JH signaling pathway genes were significantly decreased. Collectively, our study provides a deep insight into the PDK-mediated regulation of pupal ecdysis and female reproduction in T. absoluta.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Pest Science publishes high-quality papers on all aspects of pest science in agriculture, horticulture (including viticulture), forestry, urban pests, and stored products research, including health and safety issues.
Journal of Pest Science reports on advances in control of pests and animal vectors of diseases, the biology, ethology and ecology of pests and their antagonists, and the use of other beneficial organisms in pest control. The journal covers all noxious or damaging groups of animals, including arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, and vertebrates.
Journal of Pest Science devotes special attention to emerging and innovative pest control strategies, including the side effects of such approaches on non-target organisms, for example natural enemies and pollinators, and the implementation of these strategies in integrated pest management.
Journal of Pest Science also publishes papers on the management of agro- and forest ecosystems where this is relevant to pest control. Papers on important methodological developments relevant for pest control will be considered as well.