Chemosensory protein 22 in Riptortus pedestris is involved in the recognition of three soybean volatiles

Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae), a common agricultural pest, is the major causative agent of “soybean staygreen.” However, the interactions between chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in R. pedestris and host plant volatiles have yet to be comprehensively studied. In this study, we performed real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the antennal expression of RpedCSP22 and subsequently analyzed the interactions between 21 soybean volatiles, five aggregation pheromones, and RpedCSP22 protein in vitro using a protein expression system, molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis, and fluorescence competitive binding experiments. The RpedCSP22 protein showed binding affinity to three soybean volatiles (benzaldehyde, 4-ethylbenzaldehyde, and 1-octene-3-ol), with optimal binding observed under neutral pH conditions, and lost binding ability after site-directed mutagenesis. In subsequent RNA interference (RNAi) studies, gene silencing was more than 90 %, and in silenced insects, electroantennographic responses were reduced by more than 75 % compared to non-silenced insects. Moreover, Y-tube olfactory behavioral assessments revealed that the attraction of R. pedestris to the three soybean volatiles was significantly attenuated. These findings suggest that RpedCSP22 plays an important role in the recognition of host plant volatiles by R. pedestris andprovides a theoretical basis for the development of novel inhibitors targeting pest behavior.