Identification and expression profiles of gustatory receptor genes in Bactrocera minax larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae): Role of BminGR59f in larval growth

Insects employ various types of gustatory receptors (GRs) to identify nutrient-rich food and avoid toxic substances. The larval gustatory system is the critical checkpoint for food acceptance or rejection. As a specialist herbivore, the larvae of Bactrocera minax feed only on unripe citrus fruits. However, how larvae use GRs to check and adapt to the secondary metabolites in unripe citrus fruits remains unknown. In this study, we first performed developmental expression profiles showing that most BminGRs genes were highly expressed in 1st and 2nd instar larvae and that tissue-specific expression indicated high expression of most BminGRs genes in the mouthparts of 2nd instar larvae. Furthermore, we found that silencing BminGR59f by RNA interference (RNAi) affected the growth of 2nd instar B. minax larvae. Hesperidin and naringin were screened as ligands of BminGR59f via RNAi and cell calcium imaging, and the combination of these two flavones increased the body weight of larvae. In summary, we identified a novel gustatory perception pattern in B. minax for detecting hesperidin and naringin, which boosted the growth of B. minax larvae. These results shed light on how specialist herbivores detect and adapt to host metabolites in adverse environments depending on larval GRs.

Automated summary

This study reveals how larvae of Bactrocera minax use gustatory receptors (GRs) to detect and adapt to secondary metabolites in unripe citrus fruits, thereby promoting larval growth.