scholarly journals Silencing of vitellogenin gene contributes to the promise of controlling red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khawaja G. Rasool ◽  
Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Muhammad Tufail ◽  
Mureed Husain ◽  
Waleed S. Alwaneen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fat Body ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Protein Precursor ◽  
Palm Weevil ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Vitellogenin Gene

AbstractRed palm weevil [Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier)], is native to South Asia and expanding its distribution range globally. Recent invasions of red palm weevil around the world, including Saudi Arabia, has become a global constraint for the production of palm species. Although, several control measures have been tested, none of them seemed successful against this invasive species. Therefore, we focused on silencing the reproduction control gene vitellogenin (Vg) based on RNA interference (RNAi) strategy for its possible application in the management of R. ferrugineus. The Vg is a major yolk protein precursor critical for oogenesis. To do this, fat body transcriptome of R. ferrugineus female adults was sequenced, which provided partial Vg gene transcript (FPKM 5731.60). A complete RfVg gene transcript of 5504 bp encoding 1787 amino acids was then sequenced using RCAE-PCR strategy and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that RfVg has closer ancestry to the coleopteran insects. The RfVg-based RNAi significantly suppressed the expressions of Vg gene. The 15, 20 and 25 days post-injection periods suppressed Vg expressions by 95, 96.6 and 99%, respectively. The suppressed Vg expressions resulted in the dramatic failure of Vg protein expression, which caused atrophied ovaries or no oogenesis and ultimately eggs were not hatched. These results suggest that knockdown of Vg gene involved in R. ferrugineus reproduction is a promising target for RNAi-based management of R. ferrugineus.

scholarly journals De novo transcriptome analysis and identification of reproduction control genes from the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251278
Author(s):  
Khawaja Ghulam Rasool ◽  
Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Mureed Husain ◽  
Muhammad Tufail ◽  
Waleed Saleh Alwaneen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Fat Body ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Illumina Hiseq ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Palm Weevil ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Gene Transcripts

Recent attacks by the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), have become a severe problem for palm species. In present work, fat body transcriptome of adult female red palm weevil was analyzed, focusing on the identification of reproduction control genes. Transcriptome study was completed by means of next-generation sequencing (NGS) using Illumina Hiseq 2000 sequencing system. A total of 105,938,182 raw reads, 102,645,544 clean reads, and 9,238,098,960 clean nucleotides with a guanine–cytosine content of 40.31%, were produced. The processed transcriptome data resulted in 43,789 unique transcripts (with mean lengths of 1,172 bp). It was found that 20% of total unique transcripts shared up to 80%–100% sequence identity with homologous species, mainly the mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae (59.9%) and red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (26.9%). Nearly 25 annotated genes were predicted to be involved in red palm weevil reproduction, including five vitellogenin (Vg) transcripts. Among the five Vg gene transcripts, one was highly expressed compared with the other four (FPKM values of 1.963, 1.471, 1.028, and 1.017, respectively), and the five Vg gene transcripts were designated as RfVg, RfVg-equivalent1, RfVg-equivalent2, RfVg-equivalent3, and RfVg-equivalent4, respectively. The high expression level of RfVg verified by RT-polymerase chain reaction analysis suggested that RfVg is the primary functional Vg gene in red palm weevil. A high similarity of RfVg with other Coleopterans was also reflected in a phylogenetic tree, where RfVg was placed within the clade of the order Coleoptera. Awareness of the major genes that play critical roles in reproduction and proliferation of red palm weevil is valuable to understand their reproduction mechanism at a molecular level. In addition, for future molecular studies, the NGS dataset obtained will be useful and will promote the exploration of biotech-based control strategies against red palm weevil, a primary pest of palm trees.

scholarly journals Toxicity and Field Efficacy of Emamectin Benzoate (ARETOR) against Red Palm Weevil, by using Syngenta Tree Micro-Injection Technique

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (05) ◽  
pp. 1120-1125
Author(s):  
Khawaja Ghulam Rasool
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Injection Technique ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Emamectin Benzoate ◽  
Date Palms ◽  
Palm Weevil ◽  
Palm Species

Invasions of the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) has become a well-known problem for several palm species in date palm-growing states, including Saudi Arabia. Although several control measures have been implemented in efforts against RPW, yet, no approach has proven consistently effective against this invasive pest. Therefore, further efforts are still needed to develop an effective and efficient control method for RPW management and mitigation. The objectives of the present study were to determine emamectin benzoate (ARETOR) efficacy against RPW larval stages, in the laboratory using a diet incorporation bioassay, along with field tests of the Syngenta Tree Micro-Injection Technique. Our laboratory bioassay showed that the median lethal concentration of emamectin benzoate (ARETOR) was 0.30 μg/mL−1 against wild populations of RPW larvae. In the field studies, emamectin benzoate (ARETOR) showed promising effects on RPW mortality for all stages. We found 100% mortality for both larval and pupal stages for all exposure times, except after 2 months, where 86% mortality was observed for larvae. Thus, we conclude that emamectin benzoate (ARETOR) is an effective biopesticide against RPW. Our results show that it killed RPW all stages, also prevented further damage to the healthy tissues of date palms, in addition, provided protection against RPW spread to other neighboring healthy date palms. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Quarantine Protocol Against Coleopteran Borers in Date Palm Offshoots Using Eco2 Fume Gas

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 190-192
Author(s):  
H.A. El-Shafie ◽  
M.E. Mohammed ◽  
A.A. Sallam
Keyword(s):  
Date Palm ◽  
Exposure Period ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Internal Tissue ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Rhinoceros Beetle ◽  
Planting Material ◽  
Palm Weevil ◽  
Longhorn Beetle ◽  
The World

Date palm offshoots represent an important source of planting material in many date palm-growing countries around the world. Infestation by the red palm weevil ((RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), the longhorn beetle ((LHB) Jebusaea hammerschmidti) and the rhinoceros beetle ((OB) Oryctes spp.) hinders commercialization and movement of these offshoots. An effective quarantine protocol, with exposure period of 72 h at 25 °C using ECO2FUME (EF) with phosphine concentration of 1500 ppm has been developed for date palm offshoots against these coleopteran internal tissue borers.

scholarly journals The Effect of Gut Bacteria on the Physiology of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier and Their Potential for the Control of This Pest

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
Qian-Xia Liu ◽  
Zhi-Ping Su ◽  
Hui-Hui Liu ◽  
Sheng-Ping Lu ◽  
Bing Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Gut Bacteria ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Intestinal Immunity ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Nutrient Metabolism ◽  
Palm Weevil

Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is a notorious pest, which infests palm trees and has caused great economic losses worldwide. At present, insecticide applications are still the main way to control this pest. However, pesticide resistance has been detected in the field populations of RPW. Thus, future management strategies based on the novel association biological control need be developed. Recent studies have shown that the intestinal tract of RPW is often colonized by multiple microbial species as mammals and model insects, and gut bacteria have been found to promote the growth, development and immune activity of RPW larvae by modulating nutrient metabolism. Furthermore, two peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), PGRP-LB and PGRP-S1, can act as the negative regulators to modulate the intestinal immunity to maintain the homeostasis of gut bacteria in RPW larvae. Here, we summarized the current knowledge on the gut bacterial composition of RPW and their impact on the physiological traits of RPW larvae. In contrast with metazoans, it is much easier to make genetic engineered microbes to produce some active molecules against pests. From this perspective, because of the profound effects of gut bacteria on host phenotypes, it is promising to dissect the molecular mechanisms behind their effect on host physiology and facilitate the development of microbial resource-based management methods for pest control.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on the Microbial Communities of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Red Palm Weevil)-Infected and Healthy Palm Trees

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Alshammari ◽  
Meshari Alazmi ◽  
Naimah A. Alanazi ◽  
Abdel Moneim E. Sulieman ◽  
Vajid N. Veettil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Tree Trunk ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Healthy Tree ◽  
Palm Trees ◽  
Infected Tree ◽  
Palm Weevil

AbstractSeveral studies have investigated palm trees’ microbiota infected with red palm weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), the major pest of palm trees. This study compared the microbial communities of infected and uninfected palm trees in the Hail region, Northern Saudi Arabia, determined by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing by Illumina MiSeq. The results indicated that taxonomic diversity variation was higher for infected tree trunk than the healthy tree trunk. Soil samples from the vicinity of healthy and infected trees did not have a significant variation in bacterial diversity. Myxococcota, Acidobacteriota, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in RPW-infected tree trunk, and Pseudomonadaceae was the most prominent family. This study is the first report on the characterization of RPW-infected and healthy palm trees’ microbiome.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Identification of the Gustatory Receptor Gene Family of the Invasive Pest, Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier, 1790)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 611
Author(s):  
Patamarerk Engsontia ◽  
Chutamas Satasook
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Gustatory Receptor ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Palm Weevil ◽  
Receptor Gene Family

The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is a highly destructive pest of oil palm, date, and coconut in many parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has called for international collaboration to develop a multidisciplinary strategy to control this invasive pest. Previous research focused on the molecular basis of chemoreception in this species, particularly olfaction, to develop biosensors for early detection and more effective bait traps for mass trapping. However, the molecular basis of gustation, which plays an essential role in discriminating food and egg-laying sites and chemical communication in this species, is limited because its complete gustatory receptor gene family still has not been characterized. We manually annotated the gene family from the recently available genome and transcriptome data and reported 50 gustatory receptor genes encoding 65 gustatory receptors, including 7 carbon dioxide, 9 sugar, and 49 bitter receptors. This study provides a platform for future functional analysis and comparative chemosensory study. A better understanding of gustation will improve our understanding of this species’ complex chemoreception, which is an important step toward developing more effective control methods.

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