Characterization of a specific odorant receptor for linalool in the Chinese citrus fly Bactrocera minax (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Insect sensing of odorants plays important roles in various behaviors, including host location, mate attraction, and oviposition site selection. The odorant receptor (OR) is a key protein in insect environmental odor recognition. Most Diptera studies of ORs have focused on Drosophila and mosquitos, so there little known about ORs in the agricultural pest insects Tephritidae . To understand the olfactory recognition mechanism of Bactrocera minax , we sequenced and analyzed 12 B. minax transcriptomes to identify a total of 59 OR genes. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) showed that several BminORs were highly expressed in antennae. Available with a complete open reading frame and expressed in the antennae of both sexes at a higher level than those of other BminORs, BminOR24 was selected for further functional analyses. BminOR24/BminOrco expressed in Xenopus oocytes responded significantly to linalool . The identification of B. minax OR genes lays a foundation for further functional studies of OR genes, and functional characterization of BminOR24 provides insight for improving methods for controlling B. minax , a devastating pest insects. • We assembled and analyzed Bactrocera minax transcriptomes from the antennae and legs. • A total of 59 candidate odorant receptors genes were identified. • BminOR24/BminOrco expressed in Xenopus oocytes responded significantly to linalool.