Comparative transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes in Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang (Diptera: Sciaridae) at different acute stress temperatures

Abstract The gnat, Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang, is an important underground pest in Asia. B. odoriphaga differ in heat and cold tolerance and exhibit quite different developmental strategies. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we sequenced and compared the transcriptome of B. odoriphaga under 40 °C (a stressful high temperature), 25 °C, and 4 °C (a stressful low temperature) for 1 h. We found that metabolism- and ribosome-related genes were modulated. In high temperature (40 °C), heat shock protein (HSP) genes, detoxication genes, metabolism genes, protein turnover genes, and stress signal transduction genes were differentially expressed. In low temperature (4 °C), genes related with heat shock protein (HSP) and detoxication were differentially expressed. Our study increases our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the responses of B. odoriphaga to acute temperature stress and provides a potential strategy for pest management.