Toxicity of Flonicamid to <i>Diaphorina citri</i> (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Its Identification and Expression of Kir Channel Genes
Flonicamid is a selective insecticide effective against piercing–sucking insects. Although its molecular target has been identified in other species, the specific effects and detailed mechanism of action in <i>Diaphorina citri</i> Kuwayama remain poorly understood. In this study, we dete...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/900 |
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| Summary: | Flonicamid is a selective insecticide effective against piercing–sucking insects. Although its molecular target has been identified in other species, the specific effects and detailed mechanism of action in <i>Diaphorina citri</i> Kuwayama remain poorly understood. In this study, we determined that the LC<sub>50</sub> of flonicamid for <i>D. citri</i> adults was 16.6 mg AI L<sup>−1</sup> after 4 days of exposure. To explore the relevant mechanisms, the treatments with acetone and with 20 mg AI L<sup>−1</sup> flonicamid for 96 h were collected as samples for RNA-Seq. The analysis of the transcriptomes revealed 345 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in <i>D. citri</i> adults subjected to different treatments. Among these DEGs, we focused on the inward-rectifying potassium (Kir) channel genes, which have been extensively studied as potential targets of flonicamid. Three Kir subunit genes (<i>Dckir1</i>, <i>Dckir2</i>, <i>Dckir3</i>) in <i>D. citri</i> were successfully cloned and identified. Furthermore, the expression profiles of these <i>DcKirs</i> were investigated using RT-qPCR and showed that their expression significantly increased after <i>D. citri</i> eclosion to adulthood, particularly for <i>DcKir3</i>. The <i>DcKirs</i> were predominantly expressed in gut tissues, with <i>DcKir1</i> and <i>DcKir2</i> exhibiting high expression levels in the hindgut and midgut, respectively, while <i>DcKir3</i> showing high expression in the midgut and Malpighian tubules. This study provides insights into the potential roles of Kir subunits in <i>D. citri</i> and enhances our understanding of the physiological effects of flonicamid in this pest. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-4450 |