Transcriptomic analysis of the insecticidal activities of methyl benzoate against red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) larvae

Methyl benzoate (MB) is a common component of floral scents released by many plants. Recent research showed that MB was an alternative insecticide to control insect pests. However, the molecular mechanisms of insect pests in responses to MB are largely unknown, which limits the future applications of this promising insecticidal candidate. In this study, the total transcriptomic analysis for red flour beetle larvae after MB fumigation was performed. Of the 430 identified differentially expressed genes, 197 were upregulated and 233 were downregulated. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment were used to interpret gene classification/function and metabolic/signaling pathways, respectively. And we performed RT-qPCR to validate expressional profiles of identified DEGs. Genes that are involved in energy metabolism, xenobiotic metabolism, and digestive enzymes were shown to be differentially expressed, suggesting that MB have an impact on these physiological processes. This research will enrich our knowledge about the mechanisms of MB-fumigation response genes for stored-product pests. A better understanding of molecular response to MB will facilitate future applications to control stored-product pests.