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Silencing of V-ATPase-E gene causes midgut apoptosis of Diaphorina citri and affects its acquisition of Huanglongbing pathogen |
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| Authors: | Chang-Fei Guo Jun-Hong Qiu Yu-Wei Hu Pei-Ping Xu Ying-Qi Deng Ling Tian Yi-Yun Wei Wen Sang Yu-Tao Liu Bao-Li Qiu |
| Affiliation: | 1. Engineering Research Center of Biocontrol, Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China These authors contributed equally to the study.;2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China These authors contributed equally to the study.;3. Key Laboratory of South China Modern Biological Seed Industry, MARA, National S&T Innovation Center for Modern Agricultural Industry, Guangzhou, China;4. Engineering Research Center of Biocontrol, Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China;5. College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China;6. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Vector Insects, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China;7. Engineering Research Center of Biocontrol, Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China |
| Abstract: | The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is among the most important pests of citrus. It is the main vector of the Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which causes severe losses in citrus crops. Control of D. citri is therefore of paramount importance to reduce the spread of HLB. In this regard, using RNA interference (RNAi) to silence target genes is a useful strategy to control psyllids. In this study, using RNAi, we examined the biological functions of the V-ATPase subunit E (V-ATP-E) gene of D. citri, including its effect on acquisition of CLas. The amino acid sequence of V-ATP-E from D. citri had high homology with proteins from other insects. V-ATP-E was expressed at all D. citri life stages analyzed, and the expression level in mature adults was higher than that of teneral adults. Silencing of V-ATP-E resulted in a significant increase in mortality, reduced body weight, and induced cell apoptosis of the D. citri midgut. The reduced expression of V-ATP-E was indicated to inhibit CLas passing through the midgut and into the hemolymph, leading to a majority of CLas being confined to the midgut. In addition, double-stranded RNA of D. citri V-ATP-E was safe to non-target parasitic wasps. These results suggest that V-ATP-E is an effective RNAi target that can be used in D. citri control to block CLas infection. |
| Keywords: | apoptosis CLas infection Diaphorina citri RNA interference V-ATPase subunit E |