The oriental armyworm genome yields insights into the long-distance migration of noctuid moths

Dandan Tong; Lei Zhang; Ningning Wu; Dianjie Xie; Gangqi Fang; Brad S Coates; Thomas W Sappington; Yueqiu Liu; Yunxia Cheng; Jixing Xia; Xingfu Jiang; Shuai Zhan

doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111843

The oriental armyworm genome yields insights into the long-distance migration of noctuid moths

Cell Rep. 2022 Dec 20;41(12):111843. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111843.

Authors

Dandan Tong¹, Lei Zhang¹, Ningning Wu², Dianjie Xie¹, Gangqi Fang³, Brad S Coates⁴, Thomas W Sappington⁴, Yueqiu Liu⁵, Yunxia Cheng¹, Jixing Xia¹, Xingfu Jiang⁶, Shuai Zhan⁷

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
² CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
⁴ USDA-ARS Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, Science Hall II, 2310 Pammel Dr., Ames, IA 50011, USA.
⁵ School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China.
⁶ State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: xfjiang@ippcaas.cn.
⁷ CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. Electronic address: szhan@sibs.ac.cn.

PMID: 36543122
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111843

Abstract

The oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata, is known for its long-distance seasonal migration and environment-dependent phase polymorphisms. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome reference and integrate multi-omics, functional genetics, and behavioral assays to explore the genetic bases of the hallmark traits of M. separata migration. Gene family comparisons show expansion of gustatory receptor genes in this cereal crop pest. Functional investigation of magnetoreception-related genes and associated flight behaviors suggest that M. separata may use the geomagnetic field to guide orientation in its nocturnal flight. Comparative transcriptome characterizes a suite of genes that may confer the observed plasticity between phases, including genes involved in protein processing, hormone regulation, and dopamine metabolism. We further report molecular signatures that underlie the dynamic regulation of a migratory syndrome coordinating reproduction and flight. Our study yields insights into environment-dependent developmental plasticity in moths and advances our understanding of long-distance migration in nocturnal insect pests.

Keywords: CP: Developmental biology; Mythimna separata; Noctuidae; development plasticity; insect migration; seasonal adaptation.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Moths* / genetics
Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
Spodoptera / genetics
Transcriptome

Substances

Receptors, Cell Surface