Transcriptome analysis of the moso bamboo pest, Hippotiscus dorsalis, reveals differentially expressed unigenes across various tissues

Abstract

Hippotiscus dorsalis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a common pest that feeds on the stems of Moso bamboo. Therefore, investigating the molecular processes related to its fundamental physiology is important. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was employed to compare gene expression in different tissues of male and female adults. A total of 36,238 annotated unigenes were identified through the NR database and compared with those of other known species. Among these, Halyomorpha halys and Nezara viridula showed the highest homology with H. dorsalis, with a total similarity exceeding 86 %. The top significant differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with protein digestion, carbohydrates metabolism, as well as reproduce regulation between sexes. The Gene Ontology enrichment analysis across three different segments of each sex revealed some terms associated with detoxification such like IMP biosynthetic process and acetyl-CoA metabolic process. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis highlighted significant pathways related to glucose metabolism and pancreatic secretion. Further investigation of these DEGs, particularly in the calcium signaling pathway and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, is essential for understanding sugar metabolism and transport in phytophagous insects.