Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the Cytochrome P450 Gene Family in Bemisia tabaci MED and Their Roles in the Insecticide Resistance

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci MED (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an omnivorous agricultural pest, which causes huge economic losses to agriculture and is highly resistant to many pesticides. The overexpression of cytochrome P450 may play an important role in host adaptation and insecticide resistance in B. tabaci MED. Therefore, the present study systematically analyzed the cytochrome P450 gene family at the genome-wide level to understand its function in B. tabaci MED. Our analysis identified 58 cytochrome P450 genes in B. tabaci MED, among which 24 were novel. Phylogenetic analysis revealed broad functional and species-specific diversification in B. tabaci MED P450, suggesting the role of multiple P450 genes in detoxifying. Reverse transcription-real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that CYP4CS2, CYP4CS5, CYP4CS6, CYP4CS8, CYP6DW4, CYP6DW5, CYP6DW6, CYP6DZ8, and CYP6EN1 genes increased significantly after two days of exposure to imidacloprid. Interestingly, all nine genes belonged to the CYP4 and CYP6 families. A decrease in the expression of five genes (CYP6DW4, CYP6DW5, CYP6DW6, CYP6DZ8, and CYP4CS6) via RNA interference (RNAi) resulted in a significant increase in the mortalities of whiteflies when exposed to imidacloprid. These results indicate that the overexpression of the P450 genes may play an essential role in imidacloprid tolerance of B. tabaci MED. Thus, the present study provides basic information on P450 genes in B. tabaci MED, which will further help elucidate the insecticide resistance mechanism in the agricultural pest whitefly.