Codling moth is a major global pest of apple and other pome fruit. Semiochemicals have been utilized successfully to provide control of codling moth damage, though a fundamental understanding of the olfactory system is required to augment control strategies. The adult and larval olfactory systems of codling moth have been characterized via identification and expression profiling of olfactory receptors in antennae and larval heads. Previous reporting on expression of a candidate pheromone receptor in the abdomen tip of female codling moth suggests chemosensory function in the pheromone gland-ovipositor complex. Here, transcriptomic analysis of female codling moth abdomen tip reveals putative expression of ca. 30 odorant receptors. End-point RT-PCR and sequencing confirms transcriptomic results with indications of mating effect on receptor expression, which has been confirmed by qRT-PCR assay. Spatial localization of individual receptors as well as odorant receptor functional assay and CRISPR knockout studies will shed further light on the role of the pheromone glad-ovipositor complex in mediating olfactory-based behaviors in codling moth.
