Project description:The study aims to identify and analyze the miRNAs in Bemisia tabaci that feed on Nicotiana tabacum cv. NC89 plants. This allows for the investigation of insect miRNAs that play important physiological roles in Bemisia tabaci. Additionally, it enables the analysis and identification of miRNAs that are transferred from Nicotiana tabacum to Bemisia tabaci. These data can further help us understand the role of miRNAs in the interaction between Bemisia tabaci and its host plants.
Project description:The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causes tremendous losses to agriculture by direct feeding on plants and by vectoring several families of plant viruses. The B. tabaci species complex comprises over 10 genetic groups (biotypes) that are well defined by DNA markers and biological characteristics. B and Q are amongst the most dominant and damaging biotypes, differing considerably in fecundity, host range, insecticide resistance, virus vectoriality, and the symbiotic bacteria they harbor. We used a spotted B. tabaci cDNA microarray to compare the expression patterns of 6,000 ESTs of B and Q biotypes under standard 25°C regime and heat stress at 40°C. Overall, the number of genes affected by increasing temperature in the two biotypes was similar. Gene expression under 25ºC normal rearing temperature showed clear differences between the two biotypes: B exhibited higher expression of mitochondrial genes, and lower cytoskeleton, heat-shock and stress-related genes, compared to Q. Exposing B-biotype whiteflies to heat stress was accompanied by rapid alteration of gene expression. For the first time, the results here present differences in gene expression between very closely related and sympatric B. tabaci biotypes, and suggest that these clear-cut differences are due to better adaptation of one biotype over another and might eventually lead to changes in the local and global distribution of both biotypes.
Project description:The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a notorious pest of worldwide agriculture. It is believed to secrete saliva to counter plant defenses, but the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here, we characterize the gene/protein repertoires of B. tabaci salivary glands and secreted saliva by transcriptomic and LC–MS/MS analysis. A total of 698 salivary gland-higher expressed unigenes, as well as 172 saliva proteins are identified. Comparative analysis of the saliva composition in different arthropod species illustrates that proteins associated with binding, hydrolysis and oxidation-reduction are widely distributed in herbivorous saliva. There are 74 saliva proteins exclusively identified in B. tabaci, with 34 of them being B. tabaci-specific. In addition, eleven B. tabaci-specific saliva proteins plastically regulated in response to different diets, which might be associated with wide host range of this pest. Our results gain insight into whitefly–plant interactions, and provide a good resource for functional characterization of effectors
Project description:To investigated the stage-specific gene expression response to thiamethoxam in the Bemisia tabaci, we have designed the Agilent eArray platform to identify stage-regulated gene expression towards thiamethoxam exposure.
Project description:The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) causes tremendous losses to agriculture by direct feeding on plants and by vectoring several families of plant viruses. The B. tabaci species complex comprises over 10 genetic groups (biotypes) that are well defined by DNA markers and biological characteristics. B and Q are amongst the most dominant and damaging biotypes, differing considerably in fecundity, host range, insecticide resistance, virus vectoriality, and the symbiotic bacteria they harbor. We used a spotted B. tabaci cDNA microarray to compare the expression patterns of 6,000 ESTs of B and Q biotypes under standard 25°C regime and heat stress at 40°C. Overall, the number of genes affected by increasing temperature in the two biotypes was similar. Gene expression under 25ºC normal rearing temperature showed clear differences between the two biotypes: B exhibited higher expression of mitochondrial genes, and lower cytoskeleton, heat-shock and stress-related genes, compared to Q. Exposing B-biotype whiteflies to heat stress was accompanied by rapid alteration of gene expression. For the first time, the results here present differences in gene expression between very closely related and sympatric B. tabaci biotypes, and suggest that these clear-cut differences are due to better adaptation of one biotype over another and might eventually lead to changes in the local and global distribution of both biotypes. 3 replicates comparing Q biotype under 40 degrees celsius (C) with three replicates under 25 C. The same number of replicates comparing B biotype under 40 C and 25 C, and three replicates comparing B and Q biotypes under 25 C.