16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of gut microbiota from Locusta migratoria manilensis fed on rapeseed and wheat
This project aims to investigate how the gut microbiota of Locusta migratoria manilensis responds to feeding on the non-host plant rapeseed (Brassica napus), which contains defensive secondary metabolites such as glucosinolates. Using Illumina MiSeq platform, we performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (V3-V4 region) of the midgut contents from 5th instar nymphs fed on two different diets: rapeseed (non-host) and wheat (host plant). The dataset provides raw sequencing reads and enables comparative analysis of bacterial community structure, alpha/beta diversity, and functional predictions between the two treatment groups. Our findings will help elucidate the role of gut microbiota in mediating the locust's adaptation to cruciferous plant chemical defenses, offering insights into the plant-insect-microbe tripartite interaction.