A color morph-specific salivary carotenoid desaturase enhances plant photosynthesis and facilitates phloem feeding of Myzus persicae (Sulzer).

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Body-color polymorphisms in insects are often explained by environmental selective advantages. Differential fitness related to body coloration has been demonstrated in Myzus persicae (Sulzer) performance of the red morph is in general better than that of the green morph on tobacco plants. However, the molecular mechanism involved is largely unclear. RESULTS: Here we showed that the red morph of M. persicae had higher expression of a carotenoid desaturase CarD763 in the whole body, salivary gland and saliva relative to the green morph. Also, 18% individuals displayed faded red body color 5 days post dsCarD763 treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of CarD763 in the red morph significantly prolonged the time needed to locate phloem and shortened the duration of phloem feeding. Honeydew production and survival rate decreased as well. In contrast, overexpression of CarD763 in tobacco leaves facilitated aphid feeding, enhanced honeydew production and improved the survival rate of aphids. Compared with those fed by dsGFP aphids, plants infested by dsCarD763-treated aphids had higher ROS accumulation, lower lycopene content and photosynthetic rate, and maximum photon quantum yield. The reverse was true when plants overexpressed CarD763. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that CarD763, a red morph-specific salivary protein, could enhance aphid feeding and early colonization by promoting plant photosynthesis. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.