Genome and transcriptome‐based identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in <i>Sirex noctilio</i> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

The Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio; Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is among the most destructive invasive pests affecting Pinus plantations worldwide. Chemosensory systems offer promising targets for pest control strategies. The identification and characterization of chemosensation genes in non-model, economically significant insects such as S. noctilio, is an important first step towards the development of such control methods. Here we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of S. noctilio and performed RNA-sequencing of 15 olfactory and non-olfactory tissues to study the expression patterns of chemosensation-related genes. Specific genes, such as SnocOR16 and SnocSNMP1, displayed tissue- and sex-specific expression patterns, making them particularly intriguing for their potential roles in chemosensation and oviposition. As woodwasps and their related lineages form a sister group to the majority of other Hymenoptera, including Apocrita, insights into their gene repertoires are crucial for tracing the evolutionary history of chemosensory multigene families of this ecologically and economically significant insect order. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying S. noctilio chemosensation, paving the way for further research in chemical ecology and the functional characterization of S. noctilio chemosensation genes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Insect Molecular Biology
Published
2026-02-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70029
Primary Topic
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Genome and transcriptome‐based identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

Fourie Joubert, Jan Philip Oeyen, Sebastián Martín, Werner Smidt et al.
Insect Molecular Biology
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
article

Genome and transcriptome‐based identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

Fourie Joubert, Jan Philip Oeyen, Sebastián Martín, Werner Smidt, Malte Petersen, Lars Podsiadłowski, Bernard Slippers, Oliver Niehuis, Ralph S. Peters, Alisa Postma, Alexander Donath, Tanja Ziesmann, Bernhard Misof, Leandri Klynsmith, Martin P. A. Coetzee, Shanlin Liu, Christoph Mayer, Peter Lesny, Xin Zhou, Jeremy Dean Allison, Tuan A. Duong, Robert M. Waterhouse
article en

Abstract

The Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio; Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is among the most destructive invasive pests affecting Pinus plantations worldwide. Chemosensory systems offer promising targets for pest control strategies. The identification and characterization of chemosensation genes in non-model, economically significant insects such as S. noctilio, is an important first step towards the development of such control methods. Here we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of S. noctilio and performed RNA-sequencing of 15 olfactory and non-olfactory tissues to study the expression patterns of chemosensation-related genes. Specific genes, such as SnocOR16 and SnocSNMP1, displayed tissue- and sex-specific expression patterns, making them particularly intriguing for their potential roles in chemosensation and oviposition. As woodwasps and their related lineages form a sister group to the majority of other Hymenoptera, including Apocrita, insights into their gene repertoires are crucial for tracing the evolutionary history of chemosensory multigene families of this ecologically and economically significant insect order. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying S. noctilio chemosensation, paving the way for further research in chemical ecology and the functional characterization of S. noctilio chemosensation genes.

Insect Molecular Biology
SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (CH), Canadian Forest Service (CA), Natural Resources Canada (CA), University of Bonn (DE), University of Cape Town (ZA), University of Freiburg (DE), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), University Hospital Bonn (DE), Oeko Institut (DE), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE), Institute for Biodiversity (DE), Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (DE), Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NO), Institute of Zoology (CN), China Agricultural University (CN), University of Pretoria (ZA)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Leibniz-Gemeinschaft
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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