Multiple Antennal Sensory Membrane Neuron Protein Genes Mediate Rice Plant Host Location in the White-Backed Planthopper
While the sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) family has been linked to sex pheromone detection, roles in other olfactory-associated and nonolfactory functions have not been as well-defined. In this study, four SNMP genes were identified for the white-backed planthopper (<i>Sogatella furcifera</i>; WBPH), a major pest of rice plants. Tissue-specific transcriptomic data indicated that all four <i>SfurSNMPs</i> are not only expressed in the antennae to varying levels but also observed in several non-olfactory tissues. RNA interference knockdown reduced expression levels of all four transcripts in WBPH nymphs. <i>SfurSNMP</i> knockdown delayed the movement of nymphs toward a rice plant source with most nymphs congregating in a no response zone rather than moving toward the host plant. The expression of diverse signaling pathway genes was impacted following the knockdown of the different <i>SfurSNMPs</i>, suggesting that SNMP function extends beyond odorant detection, in addition to providing evidence for SNMP function in nonsex pheromone-related WBPH olfaction.
Authors
- Guy J. Smagghe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8334-3313)
- Xuan‐Zheng Liu
- Youssef Dewer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5607-7451)
- Yaqin Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4957-7076)
- Liwei Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0578-1091)
- J. Joe Hull (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7991-3045)
- Xingyu Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3815-4953)
- Peng He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2934-0044)
- Hongyan Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2489-0894)
- Jiang Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2357-8246)
- Fengqi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0192-5171)
- Tao Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7698-3440)
- Ming He
Institutions
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Guizhou University (CN)
- Biocon (Switzerland) (CH)
- Ghent University Hospital (BE)
- Ghent University (BE)
- Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Shanghai Pesticide Research Institute (CN)
- Institute of Entomology (CZ)
- U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (US)
- Agricultural Research Center (EG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
- Published
- 2025-05-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c04680
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.22
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Guizhou University
- Guizhou Science and Technology Department
- Department of Education of Guizhou Province
- Higher Education Discipline Innovation Project