Functional analysis of neutral lipases in bug feeding and reproduction

BACKGROUND The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is known to cause significant economic losses in soybean crops due to its seed‐sucking behavior, but the mechanism of its adaptation to lipid‐rich seeds remains poorly understood. To exploit potential target genes for controlling this pest, neutral lipases are functionally characterized in this study. RESULTS In this study, a total of 69 lipases were identified in R. pedestris, including 35 neutral lipases that underwent significant expansion. The phylogeny, expression patterns, and catalytic capacity of neutral lipases were investigated and we selected six salivary gland‐specific, eight gut‐specific, and three ovary‐specific genes for functional analysis. All three ovary‐specific neutral lipases (Chr1.3195, Chr1.0994, and Chr5.0087) are critical for insect reproduction, while a few gut‐specific neutral lipases (Chr4.0221 and Chr1.3207) influence insect survivorship or weight gain. In contrast, no significant phenotype change is observed when silencing salivary gland‐specific neutral lipases. CONCLUSION The lipases Chr1.3195, Chr1.0994, Chr5.0087, Chr4.0221, and Chr1.3207 are essential for R. pedestris feeding and reproduction, and the insect is highly sensitive to their deficiency, suggesting that neutral lipases are promising candidates for application in RNAi‐based control of this destructive pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. Neutral lipases in Riptortus pedestris underwent significant expansion, and three ovary‐specific neutral lipases were found to be important targets for pest control.