Evaluation and Analysis of Antennal Transcriptome for OBPs, CSPs, and Suitable Reference Genes in the leaf beetle pest Diorhabda rybakowi Weise (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Diorhabda rybakowiWeise is one of the major pests of the Nitraria spp., a pioneer plant for windbreak and sand fixation, and poses a threat tolocal livestockand ecosystems. In order to clarify the key target gene species of D. rybakowiolfactionand to provide a theoretical basis for the development of green chemical attractants or repellents. The optimal reference genes under four different conditions (tissue, developmental stage, sex and temperature) were determined, and bioinformatics and characterization of tissue expression profiles of two soluble olfactory proteins (OBPsand CSPs) were investigated. The results showed that the best endogenous genes were RPL13aand RPS18in tissue, RPS18and RPL13ain developmental stage, RPL19and RPS18in sex and TUBand RPL13ain temperature.DrybOBP3, DrybOBP6, DrybOBP7, DrybOBP10, DrybOBP11, DrybCSP2,and DrybCSP5were highly expressed in the antennae, which have importantolfactoryroles.The results of this study not only provide a basis for further in-depth research on the olfactory molecular mechanisms of host-specialized pests, but also provide a theoretical basis for the future development of new chemical attractants or repellents using volatiles to control D. rybakowi.