A potential genetic control by suppression of the wing developmental gene wingless in a global invasive pest Bactrocera dorsalis

Abstract

The adverse effects of invasive pests on ecosystems have gradually intensified, and the prevention of invasive pests is a long-standing research focus. Genetic control strategies are effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for controlling pests and have received substantial attention worldwide. However, there is a lack of researches on the genetic control of Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel, a global invasive pest with strong flight ability. The wing of B. dorsalis as an important flight organ may be a main reason for its widespread occurrence. Here, we first analysed the wing structure of B. dorsalis and found that its wing has the typical characteristic of Diptera insect wing. The spatiotemporal expressions of the wing development genes were examined by quantitative real-time PCR, antibody staining and RNA in situ hybridization. The results indicated that the wing development genes were significantly upregulated in the pupal stage, and the regional expression of each gene was clarified. Wingless (wg), a key gene that significantly affects wing development, was selected from nine genes through RNA interference and used to simulate the field control of B. dorsalis. The offspring population and the fruit-borer rate decreased significantly after the simulated control. This study provides preliminary support for the application of genetic pest control by regulating the wing development gene and proposes a novel idea for solving the problem of the extensive spread of B. dorsalis.