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Involvement of sensory neuron membrane protein gene (SNMP) in host plant searching in the bird cherry-oat aphid

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2025

Linhai Xia ,
Mengjie Gao ,
Zhimin Xu ,
Xiaoxiao Yuan ,
Wenhua Hou ,
Maohua Chen Open the ORCID record for Maohua Chen [Opens in a new window]  and
Xiong Peng
Linhai Xia
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Mengjie Gao
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Zhimin Xu
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Xiaoxiao Yuan
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Wenhua Hou
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Maohua Chen*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
Xiong Peng*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
*
Corresponding author: Maohua Chen; Email: [email protected];
Xiong Peng; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) gene play a crucial role in insect chemosensory systems. However, the role of SNMP in the host searching behaviour of Rhopalosiphum padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a highly destructive pest of cereal crops, has not been clearly understood. Our previous research has shown that three wheat volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – (E)-2-hexenol, linalool, and octanal can attract R. padi, but the involvement of SNMP in the aphid’s olfactory response to these wheat VOCs has not to be elucidated. In this study, only one SNMP gene was cloned and characterised from R. padi. The results revealed that the SNMP belongs to the SNMP1 subfamily and was named RpadSNMP1. RpadSNMP11 was predominantly expressed in the antennae of the aphid, with significantly higher expression levels observed in winged forms, indicating that it is involved in olfactory responses of R. padi. RpadSNMP1 expression was significantly up-regulated following starvation, and the expression of this gene showed a decreasing trend after 24 h of aphid feeding. Functional analysis through RpadSNMP1 knockdown demonstrated a significant decrease in R. padi’s ability to search for host plants. The residence time of R. padi injected with dsRpadSNMP1 significantly shortened in response to (E)-2-hexenol, linalool and octanal according to the four-arm olfactometer, indicating the crucial role of RpadSNMP1 in mediating the aphid’s response to these wheat VOCs. Molecular docking suggested potential binding interactions between RpadSNMP1 and three wheat VOCs. Overall, these findings provided evidence for the involvement of RpadSNMP1 in host plant searching and lay a foundation for developing new methods to control this destructive pest.

Keywords

host plant searchingolfactory systemRhopalosiphum padiRNAistarvation
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 9
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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