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Proteomic Analysis of Salivary Secretions from the Tea Green Leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens Fabrecius

Authors :
Cheng Pan
Xueyi He
Luxia Xia
Kexin Wei
Yuqun Niu
Baoyu Han
Source :
Insects, Vol 15, Iss 4, p 296 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Saliva plays a crucial role in shaping the compatibility of piercing–sucking insects with their host plants. Understanding the complex composition of leafhopper saliva is important for developing effective and eco-friendly control strategies for the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens Fabrecius, a major piercing–sucking pest in Chinese tea plantations. This study explored the saliva proteins of tea green leafhopper adults using a custom collection device, consisting of two layers of Parafilm stretched over a sucrose diet. A total of 152 proteins were identified using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following the filter-aided sample preparation (FASP). These proteins were categorized into six groups based on their functions, including enzymes, transport proteins, regulatory proteins, cell structure proteins, other proteins, and unknown proteins. Bioinformatics analyses predicted 16 secreted proteins, which were successfully cloned and transcriptionally analyzed across various tissues and developmental stages. Genes encoding putative salivary secretory proteins, including Efmucin1, EfOBP1, EfOBP2, EfOBP3, Efmucin2, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (EfLRP), EFVg1, and EFVg2, exhibited high expressions in salivary gland (SG) tissues and feeding-associated expressions at different developmental stages. These findings shed light on the potential elicitors or effectors mediating the leafhopper feeding and defense responses in tea plants, providing insights into the coevolution of tea plants and leafhoppers. The study’s conclusions open avenues for the development of innovative leafhopper control technologies that reduce the reliance on pesticides in the tea industry.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20754450
Volume :
15
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Insects
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.63a20478cc9749299f2fbc9fd2c4d0b2
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15040296