GARP: A family of glycine and alanine‐rich proteins that helps spider mites feed on plants

Abstract

Spider mites (Tetranychidae) are destructive agricultural pests which have evolved strategies to overcome plant defenses, such as the ability to puncture the leaves of their hosts to feed. The expression of many genes with unknown functions is altered during feeding, but little is known about the role of these genes in plant–mite interactions. Here, we identified 3 novel gene families through analysis of genomic and transcriptomic data from 3 spider mite species. These GARP family genes encode glycine and alanine‐rich proteins; they are present in mites (Acariformes) but absent in ticks (Parasitiformes) in the subclass Acari, indicating that these genes have undergone a significant expansion in spider mites and thus play important adaptive roles. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of GARP genes is strongly correlated with feeding and the transfer to new hosts. We used RNA interference to silence GARP1d in the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, which inhibited feeding and egg laying and significantly increased mortality when the mites were transferred to soybean shoots; a similar effect was observed after TuVATPase was silenced. However, no changes in mite mortality were observed after TuGARP1d‐silenced mites were placed on an artificial diet, which was different from the effect of TuVATPase silencing. Our results indicate that GARP family members play important roles in mite–plant interactions. Additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these interactions.

CYP4CL2 Confers Metabolic Resistance to Pyridaben in the Citrus Pest Mite Panonychus citri

“…citri, RNAi was used to suppress its expression. The mites were soaked in dsRNA solution as described elsewhere . Briefly, dsRNA primers containing a T7 promoter at the 5′ end for the P450 gene and GFP were designed by using PrimerBlast (Table S3).…”

“…The mites were soaked in dsRNA solution as described elsewhere. 25 Briefly, dsRNA primers containing a T7 promoter at the 5′ end for the P450 gene and GFP were designed by using PrimerBlast (Table S3). The dsRNA was synthesized in vitro using a TranscriptAid T7 High Yield Transcription Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific).…”