Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) is one of the major destructive pests in Asia and South East Asia region. Application of chemical pesticides is hazardous and produces resurgence in BPH biotypes. Therefore, identification of resistant genes and development of new genotypes can reduce the crop loss. Here, we have performed in silico analysis of RNASeq data from leaf and sheath samples of a resistant genotype, Qingliu in control and infested condition. This study discovered total 1050 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in leaf and 244 DEGs in sheath samples with 1.5 fold change and adjusted p-value < 0.05. Further, these significant DEGs were undergone for building protein- protein network and GO enrichment analysis using STRING algorithm. This study reveals, genes belong to cellulose synthase family and genes related to signal protein like calmodulin-binding domain protein, Nitric oxide synthase and amino acid encoding are found to be up-regulated in leaf samples. Further, genes in leaf region involve in carbon metabolism, photosynthetic carbon fixation, biosynthesis of amino acid, nitrogen compound metabolic process are observed to be down-regulated which signified the shutdown of key metabolic process in stress condition. On the other hand, genes involves in hormonal pathways such as Salicyclic acid, Jasmonic acid, Abscisic acid and MAPK are found to be up-regulated in BPH infested sheath region. This study will help to understand the molecular mechanism involves in rice BPH interaction and may be used in future breeding programme to develop improved genotypes against BPH which can help to boost production and productivity.

Brown planthopper, RNASeq analysis, Differential expression of genes, Transcriptomic study

Transcriptomic analysis of variety, Qingliu belongs to Oryza sativa japonica group infested by BPH has provided insights into the host-pest interaction followed by gene expression and related protein-protein mechanism. There are many differentially expressed genes involved in both enzymatic and biochemical mechanism of defense against BPH attack in rice. This current study revealed two DEGs (Os10g0467800 and Os09g0422500) belonging to cellulose synthase family governing the resistance behavior. Out of these two, Os10g0467800 was found to be unique in this study. Many other key DEGs involved as secondary messenger during biotic stress are Ca2+ signaling related genes, (Os02g0299200), Nitric oxide synthase (Os02g0104700) and amino acid encoding genes, Asparagine (Os06g0265000). Also several genes associated with primary metabolic activities were observed to be down regulated during infestation indicating shift in resource allocation from growth to basal defensive system. Interestingly, under biotic stress, DEGs and their transcriptional factors, which control the key hormonal pathways like SA, JA, MAPK, and ABA, were highly up regulated.

Lakesh Muduli, Sukanta Kumar Pradhan, Manasi Dash, Shyamaranjan Das Mohapatra and Surya Narayan Rath (2022). Identification of Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål.) Stress Response Genes in Rice using RNASeq Data. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 705-714.