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Gong C, Guo Z, Hu Y, Yang Z, Xia J, Yang X, Xie W, Wang S, Wu Q, Ye W, Zhou X, Turlings TCJ, Zhang Y. A Horizontally Transferred Plant Fatty Acid Desaturase Gene Steers Whitefly Reproduction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306653. [PMID: 38145364 PMCID: PMC10933598 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients for all living organisms. PUFA synthesis is mediated by Δ12 desaturases in plants and microorganisms, whereas animals usually obtain PUFAs through their diet. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is an extremely polyphagous agricultural pest that feeds on phloem sap of many plants that do not always provide them with sufficient PUFAs. Here, a plant-derived Δ12 desaturase gene family BtFAD2 is characterized in B. tabaci and it shows that the BtFAD2-9 gene enables the pest to synthesize PUFAs, thereby significantly enhancing its fecundity. The role of BtFAD2-9 in reproduction is further confirmed by transferring the gene to Drosophila melanogaster, which also increases the fruit fly's reproduction. These findings reveal an extraordinary evolutionary scenario whereby a phytophagous insect acquired a family of plant genes that enables it to synthesize essential nutrients, thereby lessening its nutritional dependency and allowing it to feed and reproduce on many host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Zhaojiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Yuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Zezhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
- Institute of Plant ProtectionTianjin Academy of Agricultural SciencesTianjin300381China
| | - Jixing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Wen Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Shaoli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Qingjun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
| | - Wenfeng Ye
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Research in Chemical EcologyInstitute of BiologyUniversity of NeuchâtelNeuchâtelCH‐2000Switzerland
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of EntomologyUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKY40546‐0091USA
| | - Ted C. J. Turlings
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Research in Chemical EcologyInstitute of BiologyUniversity of NeuchâtelNeuchâtelCH‐2000Switzerland
| | - Youjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable BiobreedingDepartment of Plant ProtectionInstitute of Vegetables and FlowersChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijing100081China
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Li D, Li HY, Zhang JR, Wu YJ, Zhao SX, Liu SS, Pan LL. Plant resistance against whitefly and its engineering. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1232735. [PMID: 37711302 PMCID: PMC10498545 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1232735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Plants face constant threats from insect herbivores, which limit plant distribution and abundance in nature and crop productivity in agricultural ecosystems. In recent decades, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, a group of phloem-feeding insects, has emerged as pests of global significance. In this article, we summarize current knowledge on plant defenses against whitefly and approaches to engineer plant resistance to whitefly. Physically, plants deploy trichome and acylsugar-based strategies to restrain nutrient extraction by whitefly. Chemically, toxic secondary metabolites such as terpenoids confer resistance against whitefly in plants. Moreover, the jasmonate (JA) signaling pathway seems to be the major regulator of whitefly resistance in many plants. We next review advances in interfering with whitefly-plant interface by engineering of plant resistance using conventional and biotechnology-based breeding. These breeding programs have yielded many plant lines with high resistance against whitefly, which hold promises for whitefly control in the field. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on several issues of particular relevance to the nature and engineering of plant resistance against whitefly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Li
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Heng-Yu Li
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Ru Zhang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Jie Wu
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Xing Zhao
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shu-Sheng Liu
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-Long Pan
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Rural Development Academy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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3
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Islam T, Azad RB, Kasfy SH, Rahman AA, Khan TZ. Horizontal gene transfer from plant to whitefly. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:853-856. [PMID: 36739179 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The recent discovery of the horizontal transfer of a toxin-neutralizing gene from plant to whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), a polyphagous insect, sparked a new area of study. In this forum, we discuss some potential biotechnological applications of this newly discovered knowledge in the coevolutionary arms race between plants and whitefly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tofazzal Islam
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh.
| | - Rojana B Azad
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Shamfin H Kasfy
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Arin A Rahman
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
| | - Tasnim Z Khan
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur 1706, Bangladesh
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Lapadula WJ, Juri Ayub M. Ribosome Inactivating Proteins in Insects: HGT, gene expression, and functional implications. Gene 2023:147547. [PMID: 37286020 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are RNA N-glycosidases that depurinate an adenine residue in the conserved alpha-sarcin/ricin loop (SRL) of rRNA, inhibiting protein synthesis. Previously, we reported the existence of these toxins in insects, whose presence is restricted to mosquitoes from the Culicinae subfamily (e.g., Aedes aegypti) and whiteflies from the Aleyrodidae family (e.g., Bemisia tabaci). Both groups of genes are derived from two independent horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events and are evolved under purifying selection. Here, we report and characterize the occurrence of a third HGT event in the Sciaroidea superfamily, which supports the recurrent acquisition of RIP genes by insects. Transcriptomic experiments, available in databases, allowed us to describe the temporal and spatial expression profiles for these foreign genes in these organisms. Furthermore, we found that RIP expression is induced after infection with pathogens and provided, for the first time, transcriptomic evidence of parasite SRL depurination. This evidence suggests a possible role of these foreign genes as immune effectors in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter J Lapadula
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis, IMIBIO-SL-CONICET and Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de Los Andes, 950, D5700HHW San Luis, Argentina.
| | - Maximiliano Juri Ayub
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis, IMIBIO-SL-CONICET and Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de Los Andes, 950, D5700HHW San Luis, Argentina
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5
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Gilbert C, Maumus F. Sidestepping Darwin: horizontal gene transfer from plants to insects. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 57:101035. [PMID: 37061183 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal transfer of genetic material (HT) is the passage of DNA between organisms by means other than reproduction. Increasing numbers of HT are reported in insects, with bacteria, fungi, plants, and insects acting as the main sources of these transfers. Here, we provide a detailed account of plant-to-insect HT events. At least 14 insect species belonging to 6 orders are known to have received plant genetic material through HT. One of them, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Middle East Asia Minor 1), concentrates most of these transfers, with no less than 28 HT events yielding 55 plant-derived genes in this species. Several plant-to-insect HT events reported so far involve gene families known to play a role in plant-parasite interactions. We highlight methodological approaches that may further help characterize these transfers. We argue that plant-to-insect HT is likely more frequent than currently appreciated and that in-depth studies of these transfers will shed new light on plant-insect interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Gilbert
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Florian Maumus
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, URGI, Versailles, France
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6
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Deppisch P, Kirsch V, Helfrich-Förster C, Senthilan PR. Contribution of cryptochromes and photolyases for insect life under sunlight. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2023; 209:373-389. [PMID: 36609567 PMCID: PMC10102093 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01607-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The cryptochrome/photolyase (CRY/PL) family is essential for life under sunlight because photolyases repair UV-damaged DNA and cryptochromes are normally part of the circadian clock that controls the activity-sleep cycle within the 24-h day. In this study, we aim to understand how the lineage and habitat of an insect affects its CRY/PL composition. To this end, we searched the large number of annotated protein sequences of 340 insect species already available in databases for CRY/PLs. Using phylogenetic tree and motif analyses, we identified four frequent CRY/PLs in insects: the photolyases 6-4 PL and CPDII PL, as well as the mammalian-type cryptochrome (MCRY) and Drosophila-type cryptochrome (DCRY). Assignment of CRY/PLs to the corresponding insects confirmed that light-exposed insects tend to have more CRY/PLs than insects with little light exposure. Nevertheless, even insects with greatly reduced CRY/PLs still possess MCRY, which can be regarded as the major insect cryptochrome. Only flies of the genus Schizophora, which includes Drosophila melanogaster, lost MCRY. Moreover, we found that MCRY and CPDII PL as well as DCRY and 6-4 PL occur very frequently together, suggesting an interaction between the two pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Deppisch
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Valentina Kirsch
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Helfrich-Förster
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Pingkalai R Senthilan
- Neurobiology and Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
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7
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Deppisch P, Helfrich-Förster C, Senthilan PR. The Gain and Loss of Cryptochrome/Photolyase Family Members during Evolution. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1613. [PMID: 36140781 PMCID: PMC9498864 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The cryptochrome/photolyase (CRY/PL) family represents an ancient group of proteins fulfilling two fundamental functions. While photolyases repair UV-induced DNA damages, cryptochromes mainly influence the circadian clock. In this study, we took advantage of the large number of already sequenced and annotated genes available in databases and systematically searched for the protein sequences of CRY/PL family members in all taxonomic groups primarily focusing on metazoans and limiting the number of species per taxonomic order to five. Using BLASTP searches and subsequent phylogenetic tree and motif analyses, we identified five distinct photolyases (CPDI, CPDII, CPDIII, 6-4 photolyase, and the plant photolyase PPL) and six cryptochrome subfamilies (DASH-CRY, mammalian-type MCRY, Drosophila-type DCRY, cnidarian-specific ACRY, plant-specific PCRY, and the putative magnetoreceptor CRY4. Manually assigning the CRY/PL subfamilies to the species studied, we have noted that over evolutionary history, an initial increase of various CRY/PL subfamilies was followed by a decrease and specialization. Thus, in more primitive organisms (e.g., bacteria, archaea, simple eukaryotes, and in basal metazoans), we find relatively few CRY/PL members. As species become more evolved (e.g., cnidarians, mollusks, echinoderms, etc.), the CRY/PL repertoire also increases, whereas it appears to decrease again in more recent organisms (humans, fruit flies, etc.). Moreover, our study indicates that all cryptochromes, although largely active in the circadian clock, arose independently from different photolyases, explaining their different modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pingkalai R. Senthilan
- Neurobiology & Genetics, Theodor-Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, 97074 Wurzburg, Germany
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8
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Weissenbach J, Dujon B. Hijacking, arms race, GMOs and pesticides. C R Biol 2021; 344:203-207. [DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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9
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Prasad A, Chirom O, Prasad M. Insect herbivores benefit from horizontal gene transfer. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 26:1096-1097. [PMID: 34364793 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is relatively common in eukaryotes, contrary to what was previously believed. For example, insects that feed on complex sugars and neutralize, degrade, and sequester toxic secondary metabolites have recently been shown to benefit by acquiring genes through HGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Prasad
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Oceania Chirom
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Manoj Prasad
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, Telangana, India.
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The Structural Characterization and Antipathogenic Activities of Quinoin, a Type 1 Ribosome-Inactivating Protein from Quinoa Seeds. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168964. [PMID: 34445686 PMCID: PMC8396469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Quinoin is a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) we previously isolated from the seeds of pseudocereal quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and is known as a functional food for its beneficial effects on human health. As the presence of RIPs in edible plants could be potentially risky, here we further characterised biochemically the protein (complete amino acid sequence, homologies/differences with other RIPs and three-dimensional homology modeling) and explored its possible defensive role against pathogens. Quinoin consists of 254 amino acid residues, without cysteinyl residues. As demonstrated by similarities and homology modeling, quinoin preserves the amino acid residues of the active site (Tyr75, Tyr122, Glu177, Arg180, Phe181 and Trp206; quinoin numbering) and the RIP-fold characteristic of RIPs. The polypeptide chain of quinoin contains two N-glycosylation sites at Asn115 and Asp231, the second of which appears to be linked to sugars. Moreover, by comparative MALDI-TOF tryptic peptide mapping, two differently glycosylated forms of quinoin, named pre-quinoin-1 and pre-quinoin-2 (~0.11 mg/100 g and ~0.85 mg/100 g of seeds, respectively) were characterised. Finally, quinoin possesses: (i) strong antiviral activity, both in vitro and in vivo towards Tobacco Necrosis Virus (TNV); (ii) a growth inhibition effect on the bacterial pathogens of plants; and (iii) a slight antifungal effect against two Cryphonectria parasitica strains.
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Saurabh S, Mishra M, Rai P, Pandey R, Singh J, Khare A, Jain M, Singh PK. Tiny Flies: A Mighty Pest That Threatens Agricultural Productivity-A Case for Next-Generation Control Strategies of Whiteflies. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12070585. [PMID: 34203297 PMCID: PMC8307429 DOI: 10.3390/insects12070585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite being a pest of global importance, effective management of whiteflies by the implication of environmentally friendly approaches is still a far-reaching task. In this review, we have tried to bring the readers’ attention to next-generation control strategies such as RNA interference and genetic modifications of plants for the expression of anti-whitefly proteins. These strategies offer huge promise to provide an effective and sustainable solution to the problem of whiteflies, either in isolation or in combination with other widely used practices under the regimes of integrated pest management. Focus has also been given to advanced technologies such as nanotechnology and genome editing, with promising prospects for field applications. The importance, applicability, and demand of these technologies for the control of whiteflies have been highlighted. We have also attempted to present the holistic picture of challenges in the path of commercial application of these promising technologies. To underline the pest status of whiteflies concisely, we have enlisted all economically important species of the pest along with their host plants/crops across the world. A comprehensive list of various insecticides of chemical, microbial, and botanical origin, applied in the field for the control of sweetpotato whitefly along with their resistance status, ecotoxicities, and effects on biological control agents, has been provided for readers. Abstract Whiteflies are a group of universally occurring insects that are considered to be a serious pest in their own way for causing both direct and indirect damages to crops. A few of them serve as vectors of plant viruses that are detrimental to the crop in question and cause an actual loss in productivity. A lot of attention is focused on pest control measures under the umbrella of IPM. In this review, we attempt to summarize the existing literature on how and why whiteflies are a serious concern for agriculture and society. We reviewed why there could be a need for fresh insight into the ways and means with which the pest can be combated. Here, we have emphasized next-generation strategies based on macromolecules, i.e., RNA interference and genetic engineering (for the expression of anti-whitefly proteins), as these strategies possess the greatest scope for research and improvement in the future. Recent scientific efforts based on nanotechnology and genome editing, which seem to offer great potential for whitefly/crop pest control, have been discussed. Comprehensive apprehensions related to obstacles in the path of taking lab-ready technologies into the farmers’ field have also been highlighted. Although the use of RNAi, GM crops, nanotechnologies, for the control of whiteflies needs to be evaluated in the field, there is an emerging range of possible applications with promising prospects for the control of these tiny flies that are mighty pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharad Saurabh
- Insect Defense Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, 435, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (S.S.); (P.R.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Manisha Mishra
- Developmental Toxicology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (M.M.); (R.P.)
| | - Preeti Rai
- Insect Defense Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, 435, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (S.S.); (P.R.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Rashmi Pandey
- Developmental Toxicology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (M.M.); (R.P.)
| | - Jyoti Singh
- Insect Defense Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, 435, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (S.S.); (P.R.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
- CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), (CSIR-HRDC) Campus, Postal Staff College Area, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Akansha Khare
- Insect Defense Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, 435, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (S.S.); (P.R.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Meeta Jain
- School of Biochemistry, Khandwa Rd., D.A.V.V., Bhawarkuwa, DAVV Takshila Parisar, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India;
| | - Pradhyumna Kumar Singh
- Insect Defense Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, 435, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (S.S.); (P.R.); (J.S.); (A.K.)
- CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), (CSIR-HRDC) Campus, Postal Staff College Area, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-7080844111
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Xia J, Guo Z, Yang Z, Han H, Wang S, Xu H, Yang X, Yang F, Wu Q, Xie W, Zhou X, Dermauw W, Turlings TCJ, Zhang Y. Whitefly hijacks a plant detoxification gene that neutralizes plant toxins. Cell 2021; 184:3588. [PMID: 34171320 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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13
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Jockusch EL, Fisher CR. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something red: the origin of ecologically relevant novelties in Hemiptera. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2021; 69:154-162. [PMID: 34058515 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Comparative transcriptomics, applied in an evolutionary context, has transformed the possibilities for studying phenotypic evolution in non-model taxa. We review recent discoveries about the development of novel, ecologically relevant phenotypes in hemipteran insects. These discoveries highlight the diverse genomic substrates of novelty: 'something old', when novelty results from changes in the regulation of existing genes or gene duplication; 'something new', wherein lineage-restricted genes contribute to the evolution of new phenotypes; and 'something borrowed', showcasing contributions of horizontal gene transfer to the evolution of novelty, including carotenoid synthesis (resulting in 'something red'). These findings show the power and flexibility of comparative transcriptomic approaches for expanding beyond the 'toolkit' model for the evolution of development. We conclude by raising questions about the relationship between new genes and new traits and outlining a research framework for answering them in Hemiptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Jockusch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd., U-3043, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
| | - Cera R Fisher
- Cornell University, Department of Entomology, 2126 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Xia J, Guo Z, Yang Z, Han H, Wang S, Xu H, Yang X, Yang F, Wu Q, Xie W, Zhou X, Dermauw W, Turlings TCJ, Zhang Y. Whitefly hijacks a plant detoxification gene that neutralizes plant toxins. Cell 2021; 184:1693-1705.e17. [PMID: 33770502 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Plants protect themselves with a vast array of toxic secondary metabolites, yet most plants serve as food for insects. The evolutionary processes that allow herbivorous insects to resist plant defenses remain largely unknown. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a cosmopolitan, highly polyphagous agricultural pest that vectors several serious plant pathogenic viruses and is an excellent model to probe the molecular mechanisms involved in overcoming plant defenses. Here, we show that, through an exceptional horizontal gene transfer event, the whitefly has acquired the plant-derived phenolic glucoside malonyltransferase gene BtPMaT1. This gene enables whiteflies to neutralize phenolic glucosides. This was confirmed by genetically transforming tomato plants to produce small interfering RNAs that silence BtPMaT1, thus impairing the whiteflies' detoxification ability. These findings reveal an evolutionary scenario whereby herbivores harness the genetic toolkit of their host plants to develop resistance to plant defenses and how this can be exploited for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixing Xia
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhaojiang Guo
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zezhong Yang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haolin Han
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shaoli Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Haifeng Xu
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Fengshan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Heilongjiang Province, College of Life Sciences, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Qingjun Wu
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Wen Xie
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xuguo Zhou
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091, USA
| | - Wannes Dermauw
- Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Plant Sciences Unit, 8920 Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ted C J Turlings
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Research in Chemical Ecology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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