Silencing the Olfactory Co-Receptor RferOrco Reduces the Response to Pheromones in the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus.
The red palm weevil (RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), one of the most widespread of all invasive insect pest species, is a major cause of severe damage to economically important palm trees. RPW exhibits behaviors very similar to those of its sympatric species, the Asian palm weevil (R. vulneratus), which is restricted geographically to the southern part of Southeast Asia. Although efficient and sustainable control of these pests remains challenging, olfactory-system disruption has been proposed as a promising approach for controlling palm weevils. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of an olfactory co-receptor (Orco) from R. ferrugineus (RferOrco) and R. vulneratus (RvulOrco) and examine the effects of RferOrco silencing (RNAi) on odorant detection. RferOrco and RvulOrco encoding 482 amino acids showing 99.58% identity. The injection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from RferOrco into R. ferrugineus pupae significantly reduced RferOrco gene expression and led to the failure of odor-stimulus detection, as confirmed through olfactometer and electroantennography (EAG) assays. These results suggest that olfactory-system disruption leading to reduced pheromone detection holds great potential for RPW pest-control strategies.
King Saud University, Chair of Date Palm Research, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Alan
A
Soffan
King Saud University, Chair of Date Palm Research, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Binu
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6292-620X
B
Antony
King Saud University, Chair of Date Palm Research, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud
M
Abdelazim
King Saud University, Chair of Date Palm Research, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Paraj
P
Shukla
Gadjah Mada University, Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia.
Witjaksono
W
Witjaksono
King Saud University, Chair of Date Palm Research, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Saleh A
SA
Aldosari
King Saud University, Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman S
AS
Aldawood
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D048889:Weevils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D019476:Insect Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D014404:Tubulin