Integrative screening of plant volatiles through transient receptor potential channel docking, olfactometry, and field validation in Bemisia tabaci
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND Bemisia tabaci is a globally damaging pest for which insecticide reliance and resistance demand eco‐rational, mechanism‐informed alternatives. This study aimed to build a multi‐tier pipeline of (TRP) channel docking, Y‐tube olfactometry, RNA interference (RNAi) functional validation, and field trapping to identify and mechanistically support plant volatile attractants for improved monitoring/management. RESULTS Docking of 51 volatile organic compounds against six modelled TRP receptors (Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily A Member 1 (TRPA1), TRPV‐ Inactive , TRPL, Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin (TRPM), TRPML, TRPP‐PKD1) yielded binding energies from −3.2 to −7.6 kcal mol −1 , with TRPM/TRPA1 showing the most stable interactions; shortlisted ligands showed Δ G −5.9 to −7.6 kcal mol −1 and Ki 2.7–47.3 μM. In Y‐tube assays (five concentrations: 10000–1 ppm, n = 5), attraction was ligand‐dependent ( F = 1852.03, P < 0.0001); top ligands reached A max ~0.61–0.66, including thymol (olfactory preference index up to 0.66 ± 0.04), cis‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol (up to 0.62 ± 0.05), β‐caryophyllene (up to 0.61 ± 0.04), cuminaldehyde (up to 0.61 ± 0.03), and phenylacetaldehyde (up to 0.64 ± 0.04). RNAi feeding caused strong, time‐dose knockdown: at 250–500 ppm, TRPA1 and TRPM transcripts dropped to ~0.18–0.13 fold (24–48 h), while combined dsTRPA1 + dsTRPM reached minima ~0.05–0.04 fold; behavioural attraction fell from ~0.58–0.65 (control/double stranded Green Fluorescent Protein (dsGFP)) to ~0.15–0.19 (dsTRPM) and ~0.02–0.19 (dsTRPA1), with dual knockdown reaching −0.02 to 0.13 (1 ppm). Field trials (three chrysanthemum fields, randomized complete block design, 10 ligands + control) showed 2.1–3.2× higher catches than control ( F 10 , 66 = 41.07, P < 0.0001); thymol peaked at 42.1 ± 2.8 adults trap −1 (AI = 3.17, CV = 6.6%) and retained 128.5% efficacy by day 6. CONCLUSION The convergence of docking affinity, lab attraction, RNAi‐dependent behavioural suppression, and consistent field performance supports TRPA1/TRPM as key contributors to volatile‐guided orientation and delivers validated attractants (notably thymol, β‐caryophyllene, cuminaldehyde) for stronger, more reliable whitefly monitoring and semiochemical‐based integrated pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Source: Pest Management Science
DOI: 10.1002/ps.70812
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154709659