Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology最新文献

{"title":"Research on HaNRX, a potential RNAi target gene in Helicoverpa armigera","authors":"Rui Han ,&nbsp;Dongdong Chu ,&nbsp;Zhibin Hao ,&nbsp;Haichao Li ,&nbsp;Xuexia Miao ,&nbsp;Shiheng An ,&nbsp;Ruobing Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106936","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106936","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cotton bollworm, <em>Helicoverpa armigera</em>, a widespread lepidopteran pest, poses a significant threat to global agricultural production. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has emerged as a promising tool for next-generation pest control; however, identifying highly effective target genes remains a critical challenge. This study focuses on Neurexin (<em>NRX</em>), a synaptic cell adhesion protein essential for synapse formation and function, which has been poorly characterized in lepidopteran species. The insecticidal effects of RNAi-mediated silencing of the <em>H. armigera</em> neurexin-4 (<em>HaNRX</em>) gene were evaluated in both first- and fourth-instar larvae, and the potential of plant-mediated RNAi for pest management was assessed. <em>HaNRX</em> knockdown, achieved through either dsRNA feeding or injection, significantly impaired larval growth and development. Furthermore, feeding on transgenic tobacco expressing dsHaNRX resulted in developmental delays in cotton bollworm larvae. In line with these results, suppression of the NRX ortholog in <em>Spodoptera frugiperda</em> also led to effective control of early-instar larvae. These findings highlight plant-mediated RNAi as a promising strategy for managing <em>H. armigera</em> and position <em>NRX</em> as a valuable target for future RNAi-based pest control approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106936"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional disruption of CYP4CE1 impairs egg development and reproductive capacity in Nilaparvata lugens","authors":"Xinyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Huihui Zhang ,&nbsp;Ruru Li ,&nbsp;Aomin Wang ,&nbsp;Yixi Zhang ,&nbsp;Zewen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cytochrome P450s participate in various essential physiological processes, including xenobiotic detoxification and the metabolism of endogenous compound. Previously, CYP4CE1 was identified as a key detoxification enzyme contributing to nitenpyram resistance in <em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>. Here, we uncovered its novel function in reproductive regulation of <em>N. lugens.</em> Silencing CYP4CE1 significantly impaired the reproductive capacity of <em>N. lugens</em>, leading to arrested embryonic development, gradual dehydration, shrinkage, and eventual death of eggs. Moreover, a significant reduction of chitin content was observed in the eggs from CYP4CE1-silenced <em>N. lugens</em>. Further investigation revealed that CYP4CE1 might affect chitin synthesis by regulating the expression of chitin synthase (CHS) and UDP-<em>N</em>-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP). In CYP4CE1-silenced <em>N. lugens</em>, the mRNA expression level of UAP was downregulated in the ovaries, while the expression level of CHS was suppressed predominantly in non-ovarian tissues<em>.</em> Additionally, abnormal expression of cuticular protein genes (<em>Cpr3</em>, <em>Cpr8</em>, <em>Cpr10</em>) suggested that CYP4CE1 might indirectly affect the mechanical strength and permeability of eggshells by modulating the cuticular protein. However, the mechanism through which CYP4CE1 regulates UAP, CHS and Cpr requires further investigation. These findings indicate that suppressing CYP4CE1 provides a novel strategy for integrated pest management by simultaneously disrupting detoxification pathways and reproductive capacity in <em>N. lugens</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106928"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antagonistic bacterium BY-S1 induces resistance to tobacco black shank: Integrated insights from defense response and metabolic profiling","authors":"Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yushuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Mengze Li ,&nbsp;Yuwei Zhang ,&nbsp;Xianglong Li ,&nbsp;Tengfei Liu ,&nbsp;Hang Wang ,&nbsp;Zicheng Xu ,&nbsp;Jiayang Xu ,&nbsp;Wei Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106967","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106967","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tobacco black shank (TBS) is a soil-borne disease caused by <em>Phytophthora nicotianae</em> (<em>P. nicotianae</em>), which poses a significant threat to both the yield and quality of tobacco crops. Biocontrol bacteria play a vital role in sustainable agriculture, including the management of TBS. Consequently, finding biocontrol bacteria that effectively inhibit <em>P. nicotianae</em> is important for tobacco production. In this study, a biocontrol bacterium with a promising control effect on TBS was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of tobacco plants, and named BY-S1. BY-S1, identified as <em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, exhibited an antagonistic effect of 70.60% against <em>P. nicotianae</em>, along with the capabilities for phosphate solubilization and siderophore production. Furthermore, an indoor potted plant experiment was conducted to explore the effect of BY-S1 on tobacco growth and resistance. The results showed that BY-S1 not only promoted tobacco growth, but also significantly reduced the TBS incidence, reaching a control efficacy of 53.45%. BY-S1 application enhanced photosynthesis, increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) and defense enzymes (PPO and PAL), and regulated the contents of plant hormones (IAA, ABA, JA and SA) to improve tobacco resistance against TBS. In addition, BY-S1 also protected tobacco from <em>P. nicotianae</em> infections by modulating metabolisms such as ascorbate and aldarate metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. These findings highlight the potential of BY-S1 in controlling <em>P. nicotianae</em> infection in tobacco.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106967"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antifungal activity and mechanism of carvacrol against Fusarium graminearum with damaging cell membranes and affecting energy metabolism","authors":"Xuewei Mao ,&nbsp;Xingchen Zhao ,&nbsp;Tangbo Cao ,&nbsp;Liting Chen ,&nbsp;Qinqin Wang ,&nbsp;Lin Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of compounds derived from natural plants can help reduce the negative effects of chemical fungicides. In this study, the antifungal activity and mechanism of a phenolic monoterpene compound, carvacrol, against <em>Fusarium graminearum were investigated</em> based on the phenotypic, physio-biochemical, and transcriptome analyses. Antifungal assays showed that carvacrol exhibited strong activity against <em>F. graminearum</em>, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.028 mg/mL. Treatment with 0.08 mg/mL carvacrol reduced fungal biomass and suppressed both conidial production and germination. Carvacrol also demonstrated effective in vivo efficacy against Fusarium head blight (FHB). In glasshouse trials, fifteen days after application, the curative efficacy of 100 mg/L carvacrol against <em>F. graminearum</em> was comparable to that of the reference fungicide polyoxin at 200 mg/L. Moreover, electron microscopy showed severe damage to mycelial morphology and intracellular ultrastructure. Propidium iodide (PI) staining indicated that there was a severe loss of membrane integrity and irreversible membrane damage. Transcriptome analysis identified 3350 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which those involved in ABC transporter and cellular energy metabolism pathways were significantly downregulated. Physiological assays revealed that carvacrol inhibits fungal growth by disrupting cell membrane integrity, ABC transporter function, and cellular energy metabolism. Molecular docking further confirmed the strong binding of carvacrol to the active sites of ATP synthase and ABC transporters. These findings elucidate the antifungal mechanisms of carvacrol and suggest its potential as a plant-derived fungicide for use in crop protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106975"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk assessment, resistance monitoring and mechanism of field-evolved resistance to broflanilide in the tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura","authors":"Xiao Guo ,&nbsp;Yilu Tong ,&nbsp;Ren Li ,&nbsp;Shengran Zhang ,&nbsp;Daofeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Cheng Qu ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Ma ,&nbsp;Ran Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Spodoptera litura</em>, a globally destructive agricultural pest, has evolved significant resistance to many popular insecticides. Broflanilide, a new meta-diamide pesticide that targets the specific site of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, provides broad-spectrum control against pests in the orders Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera. However, its potential resistance risk in <em>S. litura</em> remains unclear. In this study, a laboratory-selected strain was generated through ten consecutive generations of selection with broflanilide, revealing a low overall risk for resistance development. Concurrently, field resistance monitoring across China indicated that most <em>S. litura</em> populations remained highly susceptible, while the Sanya (SY) population exhibited moderate resistance (26.8-fold). Following seven additional generations of selection, the SY population evolved high resistance (56.2-fold) and was designated the SY-R strain. Using SY-R, we investigated inheritance, cross-resistance, and mechanism of detoxification underlying field-evolved resistance. Broflanilide showed minimal cross-resistance to the tested pesticides. Genetic and synergistic analyses indicated that resistance was incompletely dominant, autosomal, and polygenic, primarily associated with detoxification of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 (P450). These findings provide a comprehensive assessment of broflanilide resistance risk and provide valuable information and data for developing effective strategies of pesticide resistance management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106909"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biocontrol of Apple Valsa Canker by Bacillus sp. H12 and modulation of the apple seedlings microbiome","authors":"Ling Sun ,&nbsp;Jianxin Gao ,&nbsp;Yawen Tan ,&nbsp;Yiting Xia ,&nbsp;Ruolin Wang ,&nbsp;Ruiqi Liu ,&nbsp;Xinmei Zhang ,&nbsp;Xia Yan ,&nbsp;Lili Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Apple Valsa Canker (AVC), caused by the fungal pathogen <em>Cytospora mali</em>, is the most devastating stem disease in East Asia apple production systems. As an eco-friendly alternative to chemical control, biological control strategies have attained prominence for mitigating environmental pollution and preventing pathogen resistance. In this study, a soil-derived bacterial strain significantly inhibited AVC and promoted plant growth. The strain was identified as <em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</em> using combined morphological and molecular characterization and designated as H12. The bacterium directly induces abnormal branching of <em>C. mali</em> hyphae, cytoplasmic leakage, and cell wall rupture, ultimately leading to mycelia death. H12 exhibits strong control efficacy against AVC on <em>in vitro</em> branches and the leaves of tissue-cultured seedlings. Notably, H12 upregulates immune-related gene expression in apple, enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and increases callose deposition. Microbiome sequencing indicates that H12 modulates the structure of the apple phyllosphere bacterial community, enriches beneficial microorganisms, and enhances host resistance. Furthermore, the strain achieves a 55.56% disease control efficacy in field trials, demonstrating its potential for practical application as a promising microbial agent. In summary, H12 has dual functions, directly inhibiting pathogenic fungi and inducing host resistance, providing theoretical and practical support for the green management of AVC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106946"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resistance risk and molecular mechanism of strawberry wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae to Fludioxonil","authors":"Yinkai Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaolei Yang ,&nbsp;Yige Li ,&nbsp;Shengxue Li ,&nbsp;Siyu Sun ,&nbsp;Huiqing Xu ,&nbsp;Ziyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoru Yin ,&nbsp;Yiqiang Cai ,&nbsp;Guilin Sheng ,&nbsp;Yingchun Shen ,&nbsp;Jidong Xu ,&nbsp;Yabing Duan","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106962","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106962","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Strawberry wilt disease, caused by <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em> f. sp. <em>fragariae</em> (Fof) results in a considerable decline in both strawberry yield and quality. Fludioxonil, a phenylpyrrole-class fungicide, is widely recognized for its effective control against various fungal pathogens. However, its specific activity against Fof has been insufficiently investigated. In this study, we assessed the antifungal activity of fludioxonil against Fof by determining the EC₅₀ values for 100 Fof strains. The average EC₅₀ value was 0.0239 ± 0.0032 μg/mL, indicating strong antifungal activity, which was further supported by a unimodal distribution of the EC₅₀ values. Furthermore, eight highly resistant mutants were generated through in vitro fungicide taming. These mutants exhibited reduced biological fitness, as evidenced by diminished sporulation capacity and attenuated virulence. Under fludioxonil treatment, sensitive strains showed a significant increase in intracellular glycerol accumulation, whereas no significant change was observed in the resistant mutants. Moreover, the resistant mutants showed heightened sensitivity to hyperosmotic stresses. No cross-resistance was observed between fludioxonil and other fungicides with distinct modes of action, including phenamacril, carbendazim, pydiflumetofen, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and fluazinam. Moreover, the phosphorylation level of FoHog1 was significantly lower in the resistant mutants compared to the sensitive strains. Mutations in key components FoOs1, FoOs5, and FoOs2 in the MAPK cascade pathway were identified in the resistant mutants. Based on these findings, we conclude that the risk of resistance development in Fof toward fludioxonil can be classified as low to moderate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106962"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design, synthesis, and anti-fungicidal activities of sulfonyl fluoride functionalized SDHI analogs against plant pathogens","authors":"Junjie Wei ,&nbsp;Yunlong Chai ,&nbsp;Yangyang Yuan,&nbsp;Jianxiang Wang,&nbsp;Guangkai Yao,&nbsp;Zhixiang Zhang,&nbsp;Hanhong Xu,&nbsp;Chen Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) have been widely employed as agricultural fungicides due to their effectiveness and low toxicity. Recently, sulfonyl fluoride (R-OSO₂F) has emerged as a promising active moiety in pesticide development. Previously, our team identified aryl sulfonyl fluoride compounds with strong antifungal activity. Expanding on this, we incorporated the sulfonyl fluoride group into the heterocyclic amide scaffold of SDHIs, designing and synthesizing 56 novel aniline-based sulfonyl fluoride derivatives. Their structures were confirmed using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Antifungal activity assays showed that compound <strong>4a</strong> exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against <em>Rhizoctonia solani</em> (EC₅₀ = 2.89 μg/mL). In bioassays on rice leaves and pot experiments, compound <strong>4a</strong> demonstrated 50.75% protective efficacy and 32.43% curative efficacy at 200 μg/mL, comparable to that of commercial SDHI fungicide boscalid. Enzyme inhibition assays confirmed its potent suppression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and molecular docking studies demonstrated binding modes similar to boscalid, with improved binding affinity attributed to the sulfonyl fluoride moiety. We developed a novel sulfonyl fluoride series, identifying <strong>4a</strong> as a potent antifungal lead with SDHI-like action. These findings provide valuable insights and new directions for the development of sulfonyl fluorides as next-generation fungicides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106973"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hyperlipidemia of Spodoptera exigua larvae caused by the infection of Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h contributes to the viral DNA replication and virions' storage","authors":"Zheng Zhai ,&nbsp;Shi-Hao Hu ,&nbsp;Bei-Long Chen ,&nbsp;Xin-Yu Xiao ,&nbsp;Xi-Hui Cao ,&nbsp;Zi-Yao Liu ,&nbsp;Huan Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pathogen infection alters the behavior and physiology of the host to maximize progeny production. Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) is an insect virus that infects the larvae of various pests belonging to the Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) with typical syndromes of almost ceased feeding behavior. Here, we showed that after infection with HvAV-3h, the content of glucose and trehalose in the hemolymph and fat bodies of <em>Spodoptera exigua</em> decreased. Meanwhile, the content of triglycerides (TAG) in both the hemolymph and fat bodies increased. The increased TAG in fat bodies, which are the preferred tissue for ascovirus infection, may provide an energy source for viral infection or as a storage site for the produced ascoviral virions. Three myristoylation site-containing proteins, namely, 3H-11, 3H-48, and 3H-62, were predicted from the 185 open reading frames of HvAV-3h. After applying IMP-1088, which was used as a myristoylation inhibitor in this study, the deformed virions of HvAV-3h were found to be surrounded by lipid inclusions of fat bodies. These were quite different from those stored in the lipid inclusions of the inhibitor-free <em>S. exigua</em> larval fat bodies. The application of perhexiline, that is, an inhibitor of fatty acid metabolism, shortened the survival time of HvAV-3h infected <em>S. exigua</em> larvae. Meanwhile, the application of IMP-1088 prolonged the survival time of HvAV-3h infected <em>S. exigua</em> larvae. However, both inhibited the viral DNA replication of HvAV-3h. Further, qPCR detection showed that the infection of HvAV-3h minimizes the impact on key genes involved in host lipid metabolism. This could supply sufficient acyl-CoA, acetyl-CoA, and fatty acids for the generation of any lipid modifications. We showed that the ascovirus depends on lipid metabolism and myristoylation of host larvae, broadening our understanding of the interaction between viral replication and assembly and host physiological changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106908"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145842445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-transcriptional regulation of UGT349A13 through a microRNA, PC-5p-86205_18, influences afidopyropen susceptibility in Aphis craccivora","authors":"Yuanxue Yang,&nbsp;Aiyu Wang,&nbsp;Chao Xue,&nbsp;Ming Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As key detoxification enzymes, UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are known to underpin insecticide tolerance in pests such as <em>Aphis craccivora</em>. Yet, their post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) remains largely unexplored in this major crop pest. In the present study, we conducted a genomic analysis that identified 37 UGTs in <em>Aphis craccivora</em>. To investigate their role in susceptibility to the afidopyropen, we performed synergism bioassays following LC₅₀ concentration of afidopyropen exposure, combined with UGT activity measurements, revealed a critical contribution of UGTs to afidopyropen susceptibility. Exposure to afidopyropen resulted in more than a 2-fold increase in the expression levels of <em>UGT343A37</em> and <em>UGT349A13</em>. Functional validation via RNA interference (RNAi) confirmed that suppression of <em>UGT349A13</em> alone significantly increased the sensitivity of <em>A. craccivora</em> to afidopyropen. To elucidate the upstream regulatory mechanism, bioinformatic prediction identified candidate miRNAs targeting <em>UGT349A13</em>. To validate regulatory function, <em>A. craccivora</em> fed the synthetic agomir-PC-5p-86205_18, which reduced <em>UGT349A13</em> transcript levels, correlating with increased susceptibility to afidopyropen. Then, molecular interaction specificity between PC-5p-86205_18 and <em>UGT349A13</em> was definitively established by dual luciferase reporter assay. This finding demonstrated that PC-5p-86205_18 contributes to afidopyropen susceptibility in <em>A. craccivora</em> by post-transcriptionally regulating <em>UGT349A13</em>. This finding not only deepens our understanding of detoxification mechanisms but also provides a potential molecular target for developing strategies to manage afidopyropen resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106939"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}