Functional Characterization of Pheromone Receptors in the Beet Webworm, <i>Loxostege sticticalis</i> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Yu Zhang,
Hai-Bin Han,
Yan-Yan Li,
Lin-Bo Xu,
Li-Fen Hao,
Hui Wang,
Wen-He Wang,
Shu-Jing Gao,
Ke-Jian Lin
Affiliations
Yu Zhang
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Hai-Bin Han
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Yan-Yan Li
Research Center for Grassland Entomology, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
Lin-Bo Xu
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Li-Fen Hao
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Hui Wang
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Wen-He Wang
Forest Farm of Baichengzi of Alukeerqin Banner, Chifeng 024000, China
Shu-Jing Gao
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Ke-Jian Lin
Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring, Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
Lepidopteran insects mainly rely on sex pheromones to complete sexual communications. Pheromone receptors (PRs) are expressed on the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) of the sensilla trichodea and play an essential role in sexual communication. Despite extensive investigations into the mechanisms of peripheral recognition of sex pheromones in Lepidoptera, knowledge about these mechanisms in L. sticticalis remains limited. In this study, five candidate LstiPRs were analyzed in a phylogenetic tree with those of other Lepidopteran insects. Electroantennography (EAG) assays showed that the major sex pheromone component E11-14:OAc elicited a stronger antennal response than other compounds in male moths. Moreover, two types of neurons in sensilla trichodea were classified by single sensillum recordings, of which the “a” neuron specifically responded to E11-14:OAc. Five candidate PRs were functionally assayed by the heterologous expression system of Xenopus oocytes, and LstiPR2 responded to the major sex pheromone E11-14:OAc. Our findings suggest that LstiPR2 is a PR sensitive to L. sticticalis’s major sex pheromone compound, E11-14:OAc. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights into the sexual communication behavior of L. sticticalis, forming a foundation for further analysis of the species’ central nervous system.
