The identification and characterisation of a new deltamethrin resistance-associated gene, UBL40, in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Differential expression of ubiquitin was previously reported between Plutella xylostella strains that are resistant or susceptible to the pesticide deltamethrin (DM). This finding hinted at the potential involvement of ubiquitin in deltamethrin resistance, a theory that demanded further testing. Real-time PCR analyses revealed that one of the ubiquitin genes, UBL40, was overexpressed in the deltamethrin-resistant strain during the fourth instar. To investigate the functional relationship between this gene and deltamethrin resistance, RNA interference (RNAi) and cell transfection were utilised. UBL40 knockdown was observed to significantly reduce the level of resistance in RNAi-treated larvae after 48 h. Conversely, overexpression of UBL40 in Drosophila Kc cells conferred a degree of protection against deltamethrin. These results represent the first evidence that UBL40 plays a role in the regulation of deltamethrin resistance in P. xylostella.     

Transient transcription of a putative RNase containing BEN domain encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus induces an immunosuppression of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

A polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), possesses segmented genome located on chromosome(s) of an endoparasitoid wasp, C. plutellae. An episomal viral segment (CpBV-S3) consists of 11,017 bp and encodes two putative open reading frames (ORFs). ORF301 shows amino acid sequence homologies (28-50%) with RNase T2s of various organisms. It also contains BEN domain in C-terminal region. ORF302 is a hypothetical gene, which is also found in other bracoviruses. Both genes were expressed in larvae of Plutella xylostella parasitized by C. plutellae. Their expressions were detected in all tested tissues including hemocyte, fat body, gut, and epidermis. To analyze effects of these genes on the parasitism, the segment of CpBV-S3 was injected to nonparasitized larvae of P. xylostella, in which the two genes were expressed at least for 4 days post-injection. The larvae injected with CpBV-S3 exhibited significant immunosuppression, such as reduction in total hemocyte population and impairment in nodule formation behavior of hemocytes in response to bacterial challenge. Each gene expression in the treated larvae was inhibited by co-injecting respective double strand RNA (dsRNA) specific to each ORF. Injection of dsRNA of ORF301 could rescue the immunosuppression of the viral segment-treated larvae, while dsRNA specific to ORF302 did not. These results suggest that a putative RNase fused with a BEN domain encoded in CpBV-S3 plays a parasitic role in inducing host immunosuppression in the parasitism.     

Competition and co-existence of Zoophthora radicans and Pandora blunckii, two co-occurring fungal pathogens of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

The entomopathogenic fungi Zoophthora radicans and Pandora blunckii co-occur in field populations of Plutella xylostella and, therefore, are likely to interact during the infection process. We have investigated the possible outcomes of these interactions in the laboratory. Using four isolates, two of each fungal species, inter-specific interaction experiments were done in Petri dishes and on intact plants. In Petri dish experiments, larvae were inoculated directly using sporulating mats of mycelium, both species had the same opportunity to infect and only the relative concentration of conidia of each pathogen species applied was manipulated. In the intact plant experiments, larvae were placed onto fungus-contaminated plants, inoculation was passive and the probability of infection by either or both species of fungi depended on larval activity and proximity to inoculum. In the Petri dish experiment, the species with the largest concentration of conidia out-competed the other regardless of virulence, and results were similar in the intact plant experiment. The ecological implications for competition or co-existence of these two pathogens in the field are discussed.     

Transient expression of specific Cotesia plutellae bracoviral segments induces prolonged larval development of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

A polydnavirus, Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), possesses a segmented and dispersed genome that is located on chromosome(s) of its symbiotic endoparasitic wasp, C. plutellae. When the host wasp parasitizes larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, at least 27 viral genome segments are delivered to the parasitized host along with the wasp egg. The parasitized P. xylostella exhibits significant immunosuppression and a prolonged larval development. Parasitized larvae take about 2 days longer than nonparasitized larvae to develop until the wandering stage of the final larval instar, and die after egress of the full grown wasp larvae. Developmental analysis using juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid analogs suggests that altering endocrine signals could induce the retardation of larval developmental rate in P. xylostella. In this study we used a transient expression technique to micro-inject individual CpBV genome segments, and tested their ability to induce delayed larval development of P. xylostella. We demonstrated that a CpBV segment was able to express its own encoded genes when it was injected into nonparasitized larvae, in which the expression patterns of the segment genes were similar to those in the larvae parasitized by C. plutellae. Twenty three CpBV genome segments were individually cloned and injected into the second instar larvae of P. xylostella and their effects assessed by measuring the time taken for host development to the cocooning stage. Three CpBV genome segments markedly interfered with the host larval development. When the putative genes of these segments were analyzed, it was found that they did not share any common genes. Among these segments able to delay host development, segment S27 was predicted to encode seven protein tyrosine phosphatases (CpBV-PTPs), some of which were mutated by insertional inactivation with transposons, while other encoded gene expressions were unaffected. The mutant segments were unable to induce prolonged larval development of P. xylostella. These results suggest that CpBV can induce prolonged larval development of P. xylostella, and that at least some CpBV-PTPs may contribute to the parasitic role probably by altering titers of developmental hormones.     

IkB genes encoded in Cotesia plutellae bracovirus suppress an antiviral response and enhance baculovirus pathogenicity against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

An endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, parasitizes larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, with its symbiotic polydnavirus, C. plutellae bracovirus (CpBV). This study analyzed the role of Inhibitor-kB (IkB)-like genes encoded in CpBV in suppressing host antiviral response. Identified eight CpBV-IkBs are scattered on different viral genome segments and showed high homologies with other bracoviral IkBs in their amino acid sequences. Compared to an insect ortholog (e.g., Cactus of Drosophila melanogaster), they possessed a shorter ankyrin repeat domain without any regulatory domains. The eight CpBV-IkBs are, however, different in their promoter components and expression patterns in the parasitized host. To test their inhibitory activity on host antiviral response, a midgut response of P. xylostella against baculovirus infection was used as a model reaction. When the larvae were orally fed the virus, they exhibited melanotic responses of midgut epithelium, which increased with baculovirus dose and incubation time. Parasitized larvae exhibited a significant reduction in the midgut melanotic response, compared to nonparasitized larvae. Micro-injection of each of the four CpBV genome segments containing CpBV-IkBs into the hemocoel of nonparasitized larvae showed the gene expressions of the encoded IkBs and suppressed the midgut melanotic response in response to the baculovirus treatment. When nonparasitized larvae were orally administered with a recombinant baculovirus containing CpBV-IkB, they showed a significant reduction in midgut melanotic response and an enhanced susceptibility to the baculovirus infectivity.     

抗生素和肠道细菌对小菜蛾适合度的影响

【目的】小菜蛾是危害十字花科蔬菜的世界性重要害虫。通过分析抗生素对小菜蛾的毒性效应,了解肠道细菌对小菜蛾适合度的影响,有助于更好地阐明小菜蛾肠道细菌的功能。【方法】利用抗生素处理含有高丰度肠道细菌的萝卜苗饲养品系(FZss)小菜蛾幼虫,同时利用抗生素处理饲料饲养的无肠道细菌(SLss)小菜蛾幼虫,分析抗生素及肠道细菌对小菜蛾适合度的影响。【结果】抗生素处理FZss品系小菜蛾导致了小菜蛾发育历期延长,虫重、蛹重、化蛹率、产卵量和成虫寿命降低。利用抗生素处理无肠道菌的SLss品系小菜蛾幼虫,小菜蛾化蛹率和单雌产卵量均显著降低,而对发育历期、虫重和蛹重则无影响。【结论】综合两个研究的结果发现抗生素处理后宿主适合度的降低一方面是由于抗生素的毒性效应导致,另一方面是由于小菜蛾肠道细菌的缺失引起。抗生素的毒性效应主要表现为对化蛹率和单雌产卵量的影响,而肠道细菌则对小菜蛾的发育历期、虫重、蛹重以及成虫寿命具有重要的促进作用。     

Effects of an ascovirus (HvAV-3e) on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and evidence for virus transmission by a larval parasitoid

Ascoviruses (AVs) are pathogenic to lepidopteran larvae, and most commonly attack species in the Noctuidae. The unique pathology includes cleavage of host cells into virion-containing vesicles which leads to the milky white colouration of the hemolymph as opposed to the clear hemolymph of healthy larvae. Recently, we showed that a Heliothis virescens AV (HvAV-3e) isolate is able to induce disease in Crocidolomia pavonana F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), affecting feeding, growth and survival of infected larvae. In this study, we investigated the effect of different variants of HvAV-3e on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae, another non-noctuid host. In hemolymph inoculation bioassays fourth instar larvae showed a significant dose response to each of the HvAV-3e variants and significant differences between the virulence of the three variants were detected. Both second and fourth instars were readily infected with the virus and infected individuals demonstrated significant reductions in food consumption and growth. The majority of infected individuals died at the larval or pupal stage and individuals which developed into adults were usually deformed, less fecund than non-infected controls and died shortly after emergence. In transmission studies, Diadegmasemiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a key parasitoid of diamondback moth, infected healthy host larvae during oviposition following previous attack of HvAV-3e infected hosts. In choice tests D. semiclausum did not discriminate between infected individuals but host infection had no detectable impact on the development of immature D. semiclausum or on subsequent adults.     

小菜蛾幼虫偏好表达的microRNA鉴定及功能研究

[目的]microRNA(miRNA)在昆虫生长发育中发挥重要功能,本研究拟通过鉴定小菜蛾不同发育阶段的miRNA,挖掘幼虫偏好表达的miRNA及其潜在功能.[方法]对小菜蛾卵、3龄幼虫、蛹和成虫的miRNA开展高通量测序,结合生物信息学分析方法,筛选在幼虫期偏好表达的miRNA;借助实时荧光定量PCR技术,验证候选m...     

Genome-wide identification and association analysis for virus-responsive lncRNAs in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Plant Growth Regulation - Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) produced by the plant genome are essential regulators of diverse biological processes. Despite increasing knowledge on the role of lncRNAs...     

Molecular characterization of pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) produced in the subesophageal ganglion stimulates pheromone production in the pheromone gland. A cDNA isolated from female adult heads of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella (L.)) encodes 193 amino acids including PBAN, designated as Plx-PBAN, and four other neuropeptides (NPs): diapause hormone (DH) homologue, -NP, β-NP and γ-NP. All of the peptides are amidated in their C-termini and shared a conserved motif, FXPR(or K)L structure, as reported from other PBAN cDNAs. Plx-PBAN consists of 30 amino acids, the shortest PBAN so far reported. Plx-PBAN exhibited below 50% homology, compared with other known PBANs. The Plx-DH homologue is structurally different from DH of Bombyx mori. The length of Plx-β-NP (16 amino acids) was the shortest and showed relatively low similarity, whereas γ-NP (10 amino acids in length) was the longest among examined γ-NPs. When female adults were injected with synthetic Plx-PBAN, pheromone production showed a maximal increase 1 h post-injection. RT-PCR screening revealed that Plx-PBAN cDNA was expressed in all examined body parts, with the highest expression level in the head of female adults. Analysis of RT-PCR products indicated the Plx-PBAN sequence was identical in all examined body parts of both sexes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Plx-PBAN gene is distantly related to other PBANs, demonstrated by the relatively low similarity.     

Genome-wide identification,evolution and expression analysis of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) serve as the top leading commercial, non-food, and model crop worldwide. Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs) are ligand-gated, calcium-permeable, divalent, cation-selective channels, involved in important biological functions. Here, we systematically characterized thirty-five CNGC genes in the genome of Nicotiana tabacum, and classified into four phylogenetic groups. Evolutionary analysis showed that NtabCNGC family of N. tabacum originated from the parental genome of N. sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis, and further expanded via tandem and segmental duplication events. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that twenty-three NtabCNGC genes are involved in the development of various tobacco tissues. Subsequent RT-qPCR analyses indicated that these genes are sensitive towards external abiotic and biotic stresses. Notable performances were exhibited by group-I and IV CNGC genes against black shank, Cucumber mosaic virus, Potato virus Y, cold, drought, and cadmium stresses. Our analyses also suggested that NtabCNGCs can be regulated by phosphorylation and miRNAs, and multiple light, temperature, and pathogen-responsive cis-acting regulatory elements present in promotors. These results will be useful for elaborating the biological roles of NtabCNGCs in tobacco growth and development.     

小菜蛾酪氨酸酶生物化学性质研究

采用时间动力学法对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella酪氨酸酶的最适反应条件、对抑制剂的敏感度以及发育期变化规律进行了研究。结果表明：小菜蛾酪氨酸酶反应的最适pH值为6.4,反应线性时间为0～2 min,在22℃和4℃下其活性分别可保持12 h 和72 h,在-20℃下至少可保持7 天。不同发育阶段小菜蛾酪氨酸酶活性的大小依次为预蛹＞4龄幼虫＞蛹＞1龄、2龄、3龄幼虫＞成虫。苯基硫脲（phenyl thiourea,PTU）对小菜蛾阿维菌素抗性品系和敏感品系酪氨酸酶活性的抑制中浓度（I₅₀）值分别为1.1796 μmol/L和1.2795 μmol/L,二者无明显差异。     

Chemoreception of oviposition inhibiting terpenoids in the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

The effects of six terpenoids and two terpenoid containing extracts of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) on oviposition by the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L., Yponomeutidae: Lepidoptera) were tested. Two drimane terpenoids, the sesquiterpenoid polygodial and the neem extract Margosan-O exerted significant inhibitory effects at the dosages tested. Ablation experiments showed that both antennae and fore-tarsi contributed to mediation of the inhibition by a drimane. Location of chemosensilla on prothoracic tarsi and ovipositor was examined by scanning electronmicroscopy. Electrophysiological recordings from ovipositor and tarsal taste sensilla showed that distilled water produced distinct responses from one neuron. In tarsal sensilla, ethanol and drimane solutions produced responses from two neurons, one of which might be the water cell that fired at a reduced rate. A drimane significantly decreased the responses of tarsal chemoreceptors to a cabbage leaf extract, which is a possible sensory mechanism leading to behavioural avoidance of this compound.     

小菜蛾对几种常用药剂的敏感性测定

采用叶片浸溃法,在2001年10月和2002年10月分别测定了福州上街蔬菜基地的小菜蛾,对10种杀虫剂的敏感性。结果表明,上街菜区小菜蛾对灭多威、杀虫双、辛硫磷、毒死蜱、杀灭菊酯和功夫菊酯等农药极不敏感,已不能有效控制小菜蛾的危害。而小菜蛾对氟啶脲、阿维菌素、氟虫腈和虫螨腈比较敏感。通过两次毒力测定比较(2002年10月的LC50;2001年10月的LC50),结果表明,大多数杀虫剂敏感性变化较小。但小菜蛾对阿维菌素敏感性明显下降,毒力倍数达6．65倍,对氟虫腈毒力倍数相差1．48倍。此外,2002年10月小菜蛾对功夫菊酯的LC50为2001年10月的2．02倍。用浸叶法和浸溃法测定多杀菌素、氟虫腈与虫螨腈推荐浓度对小菜蛾幼虫的毒杀作用。结果表明3种药剂浸叶法处理效果均较理想。     

Evidence for behavioural resistance by the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Abstract:  The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae), is an important pest of brassicaceous crops worldwide. It has developed resistance to almost every synthetic insecticide applied in the field and consequently is often difficult to control in crucifer-growing areas. DBM oviposition behaviour was investigated in greenhouse and growth chamber conditions with seven cruciferous and one non-cruciferous plant varieties. In free choice tests, females deposited more eggs on the stem near the soil-stem interface than on leaves. Our findings suggest that DBM is capable of developing behavioural resistance through oviposition site selection to avoid lethal doses of foliar-applied insecticides in the field.     

小菜蛾饲养技术与规范

小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)是一种世界性危害的十字花科蔬菜重要害虫,其抗药性问题尤为突出。目前,小菜蛾已成为害虫抗药性等多个研究领域的重要研究对象,而小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养是开展相关研究的基础。针对目前小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养技术存在不规范、不科学、不标准等问题,本文重点介绍了本实验室成熟系统的小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养方法——甘蓝萝卜苗法。该方法简单、易操作、实用性强,因此,可以作为一种小菜蛾室内大规模人工饲养的技术规范在全国范围内推广。     

小菜蛾对苦皮藤素抗性选育及交互抗性测定

敏感小菜蛾Plutella xylostella (L.)经苦皮藤素20代的抗性选育,其抗性增长21.57倍。选育的小菜蛾抗性品系对杀虫双、杀螟丹和叶蝉散分别有4.63、4.11和3.71倍的交互抗性;对溴氰菊酯、氯菊酯、氯氰菊酯分别有0.22、0.01和0.26倍的负交互抗性。高抗杀螟丹、杀虫双小菜蛾品系对苦皮藤素无明显交互抗性,而高抗溴氰菊酯小菜蛾品系对苦皮藤素有3.61倍的交互抗性。