Ecdysteroid Biosynthesis Halloween Gene <i>Spook</i> Plays an Important Role in the Oviposition Process of Spider Mite, <i>Tetranychus urticae</i>
2023
Liang Wang | Zhuo Li | Tianci Yi | Gang Li | Guy Smagghe | Daochao Jin
In insects, the ecdysteroid hormone regulates development and reproduction. However, its function in the reproduction process of spider mites is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of the Halloween gene <i>Spook</i> on the oviposition of the reproduction process in a spider mite, <i>Tetranychus urticae</i>. The expression patterns of the ecdysteroid biosynthesis and signaling pathway genes, as analyzed by RT-qPCR, showed that the expression pattern of the Halloween genes was similar to the oviposition pattern of the female mite and the expression patterns of the vitellogenesis-related genes <i>TuVg</i> and <i>TuVgR</i>, suggesting that the Halloween genes are involved in the oviposition of spider mites. To investigate the function of the ecdysteroid hormone on the oviposition of the reproduction process, we carried out an RNAi assay against the Halloween gene <i>Spook</i> by injection in female mites. Effective silencing of <i>TuSpo</i> led to a significant reduction of oviposition. In summary, these results provide an initial study on the effect of Halloween genes on the reproduction in <i>T. urticae</i> and may be a foundation for a new strategy to control spider mites.
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