PROIMI   05436
PLANTA PILOTO DE PROCESOS INDUSTRIALES MICROBIOLOGICOS
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Effects of Sorghum halepense, an alternative food source, on the metatranscriptome and transcriptome of Spodoptera frugiperda, a major maize pest
Autor/es:
CABRERA, N.A.; VIRLA, E G; CASTRO, M. ; MCCARTHY, C.B.
Lugar:
Mendoza
Reunión:
Congreso; X Congreso Argentino de Entomología; 2018
Institución organizadora:
SEA -IADIZA
Resumen:
Spodoptera frugiperda (Orden Lepidoptera, Familia Noctuidae) has a broad geographical distribution (from Argentina to southern USA), and is one of the pests that causes most harm to maize crops in Argentina. It is mainly controlled with transgenic corn and chemical insecticides, but their inadequate use has led to field-evolved resistance. For this reason there is a compelling need to develop alternative control strategies. In this regard, it is widely accepted that insects derive their microbiota from the surrounding environment, and that it can influence its life cycle. Moreover, an inventory of the associated microbiota, especially of wild specimens, would aid in understanding their biology more comprehensively, and in developing novel biocontrol strategies.We previously captured S. frugiperda specimens from different environments, altitudes and food sources in the province of Tucumán (Argentina). Total RNA was extracted from fifth instar larval guts, submitted to a one-step reverse transcription and PCR sequence independent amplification procedure, and then pyrosequenced. In this study we analysed one of these samples, namely, larvaethat were captured from an alternative food source, Sorghum halepense, in El Manantial locality (26°49´50´´S, 65°16´59.4´´W; Lules Department, Tucumán Province) at 495 meters above sea level. Sequence reads were trimmed and assembled. Homology searches were performed against various NCBI databases. Taxonomic and functional contents were analysed with MEGAN. Sequences fromthe metatranscriptome showed homology to the Domains Bacteria and Eukarya, among which we found potential biocontrol agents. On the other hand, analysis of the host gene expression profile showed that most transcripts were associated with three biological functions: cellular processes and cell cycle, environmental stress and resistance to xenobiotics, and biosynthesis. Among these, various transcripts represent possible targets for pest control via RNA interference (RNAi). In conclusion, this study has enabled a comprehensive view of the potential effects of this alternative food source (i.e., Sorghum halepense) and the environmental conditions, on the S. frugiperda larval gut transcriptome, the associated metatranscriptome, and the interactions between them.