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Functional characteristics of a novel odorant binding protein in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata.

ABSTRACT: Insect olfaction system plays a key role in the foraging food, pollination, mating, oviposition, reproduction and other insect physiological behavior. Odorant binding protein are widely found in the various olfactory sensilla of different insect antennae and involved in chemical signals discrimination from natural environment. In this study, a novel OBP gene, MvitOBP3 is identified from the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, which it mainly harms important legume vegetables including cowpea, soybean and lablab bean. Real-time PCR results demonstrated that MvitOBP3 gene was abundantly expressed in the antennal tissue of M. vitrata, while low levels were distributed in the head, thorax, abdomen, leg and wing of adult moths. The recombinant OBP3 protein was purified using the prokaryotic expression and affinity chromatography system. Fluorescence competitive binding experiments indicated that that MvitOBP3 protein exhibited greater binding affinities with host-plant flower volatiles including Butanoic acid butyl ester, Limonene, 1H-indol-4-ol and 2-methyl-3-phenylpropanal, highlighting they may have attractant activities for the oviposition of female moths on the legume vegetables. Moreover, protein homology modeling and molecular docking analysis revealed that there are six amino acid sites of MvitOBP3 involved in the binding of the host-plant volatiles. These findings will further promote to understand the key role of odorant binding protein during host perception and oviposition of M. vitrata moths, which improve the efficiency of semiochemical-based prevention and monitoring for this pest in the legume vegetables field.

SUBMITTER: Ai H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8263619 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Chemoreception is a key feature in selection of host plant by phytophagous insects, and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in chemical communication of both insects and vertebrates. The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the key pest species of cowpea and widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions, causing up to 80% of yield loss. In this study, we investigated the electrophysiological responses of female M. vitrata to floral volatiles from V. unguiculata. Seventeen electroantennogram-active compounds were identified from floral volatiles of V. unguiculata by coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (GC-EAD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Then, we cloned two novel full-length GOBP genes (MvitGOBP1 and MvitGOBP2) from the antennae of M. vitrata using reverse transcription PCR. Protein sequence analysis indicated that they shared high sequence similarity with other Pyralididae insect GOBPs and had the typical six-cysteine signature. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that MvitGOBP1-2 mRNA was highly expressed in the antennae of female adult with several thousands-fold difference compare to other tissue. Next, the recombinant MvitGOBP1-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni ion affinity chromatography. Fluorescence binding assays demonstrated that MvitGOBP1-2 had different binding affinities with 17 volatile odorant molecules including butanoic acid butyl ester, limonene, 4-ethylpropiophenone, 1H-indol-4-ol, butanoic acid octyl ester and 2-methyl-3-phenylpropanal. In the field trapping experiment, these six floral volatiles could effectively attract female moths and showed significant difference compared with the blank lure. These results suggested that MvitGOBPs and the seventeen floral volatiles are likely to function in the olfactory behavior response of female moths, which may have played crucial roles in the selection of oviposition sites. The six compounds that we have identified from the volatiles of V. unguiculata may provide useful information for exploring efficiency monitoring and integrated pest management strategies of this legume pod borer in the field.

Project description:Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. (Fabaceae), is one of the most important food legumes grown on the African continent, as it provides an affordable source of dietary protein. Yields of cowpea are significantly reduced through damage by legume pod-borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), caterpillars to flowers, tender leaves and pods. Semiochemical-based strategies are considered as environmentally benign and affordable for pest management, particularly on smallholder farms. In this study, we investigated the importance of cowpea flower volatiles as host location cues for egg-laying M. vitrata, and herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) as M. vitrata repellents and natural enemy (Apanteles taragamae and Phanerotoma syleptae parasitoid) attractants. In oviposition choice assays, M. vitrata laid more eggs on flowering cowpea plants than non-flowering plants. Coupled gas chromatography-electrophysiology (GC-EAG) analysis using the antennae of female M. vitrata and an extract of flower volatiles collected by dynamic headspace collection revealed the presence of five EAG-active components that were identified by coupled GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis as benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone, a vinylbenzaldehyde isomer and (E)-cinnamaldehyde. A synthetic blend of the identified compounds, prepared using 3-vinylbenzaldehyde, induced M. vitrata to lay as many eggs on non-flowering cowpea as on flowering plants. The moths also preferred laying eggs on intact plants compared to M. vitrata-infested plants. As the emission of EAG-active floral compounds was determined to be lower in the headspace of infested cowpea flowers, the role of HIPVs emitted by M. vitrata-damaged leaves was also investigated. Of the compounds induced by larval damage, (E)-DMNT, indole, n-hexyl acetate, 1-octen-3-ol and linalool were shown by GC-EAG to possess electrophysiological activity. A synthetic blend of the EAG-active compounds, using racemic 1-octen-3-ol and linalool, significantly reduced egg numbers on flowering cowpea. Larval and egg parasitoids, i.e. A. taragamae and Ph. syleptae, respectively, of M. vitrata both preferred the Y-tube olfactometer arm treated with synthetic (E)-DMNT, whereas preference for racemic linalool and (E)-nerolidol was dose-dependent in A. taragamae. Our results provide the platform for the development of future semiochemical-based pest management strategies against M. vitrata on smallholder farms in West Africa.

Project description:This study was undertaken to assess the genetic diversity and host plant races of M. vitrata population in South and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was used to understand the phylogenetic relationship of geographically different M. vitrata population, but previous studies did not include population from Southeast Asia, the probable center of origin for Maruca, and from east Africa. Extensive sampling was done from different host plant species in target countries. Reference populations from Oceania and Latin America were used. An amplicon of 658 bp was produced by polymerase chain reaction, and 64 haplotypes were identified in 686 M. vitrata individuals. Phylogenetic analysis showed no difference among the M. vitrata population from different host plants. However, the results suggested that M. vitrata has formed two putative subspecies (which cannot be differentiated based on morphological characters) in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, as indicated by the high pairwise FST values (0.44-0.85). The extremely high FST values (≥ 0.93) of Maruca population in Latin America and Oceania compared to Asian and African population seem to indicate a different species. On the continental or larger geographical region basis, the genetic differentiation is significantly correlated with the geographical distance. In addition, two putative species of Maruca, including M. vitrata occur in Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The negative Tajima's D and Fu's FS values showed the recent demographic expansion of Maruca population. The haplotype network and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery analyses confirmed the results of phylogenetic analysis. Thus, this study confirmed the presence of three putative Maruca species, including one in Latin America, one in Oceania (including Indonesia) and M. vitrata in Asia, Africa and Oceania. Hence, the genetic differences in Maruca population should be carefully considered while designing the pest management strategies in different regions.

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Functional characteristics of a novel odorant binding protein in the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata.

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