title: Synthetic pheromones and plant volatiles alter the expression of chemosensory genes in Spodoptera exigua.
abstract: Pheromone and plant odorants are important for insect mating, foraging food sources and oviposition. To understand the molecular mechanisms regulating pheromone and odorant signaling, we employed qRT-PCR to study the circadian rhythms of ABP, OBP, PBP, and OR gene expression in the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua and their responses after a pre-exposure to sex pheromone compounds or plant volatiles. The neuronal responses of male S. exigua to 20 chemical compounds were recorded at three specific time periods using the electroantennogram. The results showed a circadian rhythm in the expression profiles of some chemosensory genes in the antennae similar to their behavioral rhythm. The expression profiles of OR3, OR6, OR11, OR13, OR16, OR18, Orco, ABP2, OBP1, OBP7, and PBP1, and EAG responses to chemical compounds, as well as their circadian rhythm were significantly affected after exposure to synthetic sex pheromones and plant volatiles. These findings provide the first evidence that the gene expression of chemosensory genes and olfactory sensitivity to sex pheromones are affected by pre-exposing insects to pheromone compounds and plant volatiles. It helps to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying pheromone activity, and the application of sex pheromones and plant volatiles in mating disruption or mass trapping.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Xinlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Environmental Ecology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
authors.forename: Yongjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012724:Sex Attractants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds