Molecular mechanisms uncovers differentially expressed genes in male and female adults of Batocera horsfieldi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract

Batocera horsfieldi (Hope) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a significant wood-boring pest in China, primarily affecting timber forests and economic plantations. However, the genomic resources of B. horsfieldi remain limited, constraining the ability to discover molecular and genetic mechanisms for pest control. This study used RNA-seq to correct PacBio Iso-Seq data, thoroughly analyzing the differential genes of male and female adult B. horsfieldi to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular characteristics of this pest. The sequencing results generated 41.16 GB of raw data and 38.26 GB of clean data, yielding 42,005 full-length transcripts. The average transcript length was 2,609 bp, with an N50 length of 2,858 bp and an N90 length of 1,714 bp. Expression analysis revealed 208 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analysis of these DEGs using Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) indicated their involvement in energy metabolism, biosynthesis, and cell signal transduction pathways. These pathways collectively maintain metabolic balance, signal transduction networks, and adaptability to external environments within the organism. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for further validation of gene expression levels, and the results were consistent with RNA-seq. The transcriptome data obtained in this study provide additional valuable information for unraveling the molecular mechanisms of B. horsfieldi and offer potential reference points for pest control efforts.