The Function of Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) E74 and Its Interaction With βFtz-F1

Drosophila E74 is an early gene located in the polytene chromosome 74EF puff position. E74 controls the production of late genes, indicating that it plays a crucial role in this cascade model. Nilaparvata lugens E74 is closely related to Diaphorina citri, Bemisia tabaci, and Laodelphax striatellus. After downregulating E74, molting, and nymphal mortality were increased, and ovarian development was delayed. Moreover, the expression of Vg was reduced at the transcriptional level, as measured by qRT-PCR, and the content of Vg protein was reduced, as detected by Western blotting. After downregulating E74, the expression of hormone-related genes, including Tai, βFtz-F1, Met, Kr-h1, UspA, UspB, E93, and Br, was changed. The expression of E74 was significantly decreased after downregulating hormone-related genes. When the expression of E74 and βFtz-F1 was downregulated together, nymph mortality and molting mortality were higher than those when E74 or βFtz-F1 was downregulated alone. Thus, E74 probably interacts with βFtz-F1 at the genetic level. In summary, this study showed that E74 plays a crucial role in the development, metamorphosis and reproduction of N. lugens, possibly via the interaction with βFtz-F1 at the genetic level. This study provides a basis for the development of new target-based pesticides and new methods for the effective control of N. lugens.