Transcriptome analysis of aphids exposed to glandular trichomes in tomato reveals stress and starvation related responses

Abstract

Understanding the responses of insect herbivores to plant chemical defences is pivotal for the management of crops and pests. However, the mechanisms of interaction are not entirely understood. In this study, we compared the whole transcriptome gene expression of the aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae grown on two different varieties of tomato that differ in their inducible chemical defences. We used two isogenic lines of tomato with a shared genetic background that only differ in the presence of type IV glandular trichomes and their associated acylsucrose excretions. This works also reports a de novo transcriptome of the aphid M. euphorbiae. Subsequently, we identified a unique and distinct gene expression profile for the first time corresponding to aphid´s exposure to type IV glandular trichomes and acylsugars. The analysis of the aphid transcriptome shows that tomato glandular trichomes and their associated secretions are highly efficient in triggering stress-related responses in the aphid, and demonstrating that their role in plant defence goes beyond the physical impediment of herbivore activity. Some of the differentially expressed genes were associated with carbohydrate, lipid and xenobiotic metabolisms, immune system, oxidative stress response and hormone biosynthesis pathways. Also, the observed responses are compatible with a starvation syndrome. The transcriptome analysis puts forward a wide range of genes involved in the synthesis and regulation of detoxification enzymes that reveal important underlying mechanisms in the interaction of the aphid with its host plant and provides a valuable genomic resource for future study of biological processes at the molecular level using this aphid.

Comparative Transcriptomics Analysis Reveals Rusty Grain Beetle’s Aggregation Pheromone Biosynthesis Mechanism in Response to Starvation

“…During starvation in C. ferrugineus, carbohydrate metabolism emerged as one of the down-regulated pathways, with transcripts linked to chitinase (idgf), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (fbp), fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (pfrx), and fructosebisphosphate aldolase (ald1) genes being repressed (Table 2). Comparable findings were observed in Lipaphis erysimi under starvation conditions [53].…”

Unveiling Molecular Effects of the Secondary Metabolite 2-Dodecanone in the Model Hymenopteran Nasonia vitripennis

“…The early detection of variations in the pattern of genetic activity is a very useful approach to analyse the effects of exposure to stress factors [ 46 , 52 , 53 , 54 ]. However, to date, very limited information is available about molecular biomarkers in non-pest insects exposed to pesticides or in phytophagous insects exposed to the secondary metabolites of their host plants [ 19 , 55 ]. Detoxification systems are one of the different physiological pathways that may be affected by toxicants.…”

Untangling an insect virome from its endogenous viral elements

“…euphorbiae is also an important vector of plant viruses (Families Bromoviridae, Closteroviridae, Geminiviridae, Potyviridae, and Solemoviridae) and was recently shown to host several insect-specific viruses belonging to the families Flaviviridae (Flavivirus) and Parvoviridae [24,29,30]. Despite M. euphorbiae's economic importance, no genomic resources are available outside the body and salivary gland transcriptomes [24,31,32].…”