NlCEBP -Mediated Upregulation of NlUGT386K2 Confers Resistance to Triflumezopyrim in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) is a major pest of rice crops and has developed severe resistance to insecticides. Among them, triflumezopyrim is currently one of the main compounds used for N. lugens control. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying N. lugens resistance to triflumezopyrim remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of triflumezopyrim resistance in N. lugens. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that 10 UGT genes were up-regulated in triflumezopyrim resistant strain. Of these, the expression levels of 3 UGT genes were further induced upon exposure to triflumezopyrim. Meanwhile the RNA interference (RNAi) experiments indicated that silencing NlUGT386K2 in N. lugens resulted in a significant increase in susceptibility to triflumezopyrim. Furthermore, the bZIP transcription factor NlCEBP was shown to bind the promoter region of NlUGT386K2, thereby enhancing its expression and increased triflumezopyrim resistance in N. lugens. These findings uncover a UGT-mediated detoxification pathway regulated by NlCEBP and provide offering new insights into insecticide resistance and potential molecular targets for pest management.