Exposure to Sublethal Concentrations of Dinotefuran Induces Apoptosis in the Gut of Diaphorina citriAdults via Activating the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway

Diaphorina citriis a serious citrus pest. Dinotefuran is highly insecticidal against D. citri. To analyze the sublethal effects of dinotefuran on D. citriadults, an indoor toxicity test was performed, which revealed that the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) values were 4.23 and 0.50 μg/mL for 24 and 48 h treatments, respectively. RNA-Seq led to the identification of 71 and 231 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after dinotefuran treatments with LC20and LC50doses, respectively. Many of the DEGs are significantly enriched in the apoptosis pathway. Dinotefuran-induced apoptosis in the gut cells was confirmed through independent assays of 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed. Four caspase genes were identified, and dinotefuran treatments resulted in increased mRNA levels of DcCasp1and DcCasp3a. These findings shed light on the sublethal effects of dinotefuran on D. citri.