Affiliation:
1. State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian‐Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou China
2. Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross‐Strait Crops Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou China
3. Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian‐Taiwan Crops Ministry of Agriculture Fuzhou China
4. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Ecology Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Fuzhou China
Abstract
AbstractBACKGROUNDPlutella xylostella (Linnaeus) is a destructive pest of cruciferous crops due to its strong reproductive capacity and extensive resistance to pesticides. Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are the main effective factors that determine the reproductive physiology and behaviour of both sexes. Although an increasing number of SFPs have been identified, the effects of astacins in SFPs on agricultural pests have not yet been reported. Here, we elucidated the mechanisms by which Sast1 (seminal astacin 1) regulates the fertility of Plutella xylostella (L.).RESULTSPxSast1 was specifically expressed in the testis and accesssory gland. CRISPR/Cas9‐induced PxSast1 knockout successfully constructed two homozygous mutant strains. Sast1 impaired the fertility of P. xylostella by separately regulating the reproductive capacity of males and females. Loss of PxSast1, on the one hand, significantly decreased the ability of males to mate and fertilize, mainly manifested as shortened mating duration, reduced mating competitiveness and decreased eupyrene sperm production; on the other hand, it significantly inhibited the expression of chorion genes in females, resulting in oogenesis deficits. Simultaneously, for mated females, the differentially expressed genes in signalling pathways related to oogenesis and chorion formation were significantly enriched after PxSast1 knockout.CONCLUSIONThese analyses of the functions of PxSast1 as the regulator of spermatogenesis and oogenesis establish its importance in the fertility process of P. xylostella, as well as its potential as a promising target for genetic regulation‐based pest control. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Insect Science,Agronomy and Crop Science,General Medicine