Dnmt1 is required for early embryo development in the haplodiploid insect, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Authors: SHELBY, EMILY - University Of Georgia; MCKINNEY, ELIZABETH - University Of Georgia; CUNNINGHAM, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Georgia; Simmons, Alvin; MOORE, ALLEN - University Of Georgia; MOORE, PATRICIA - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2025
Publication Date: 10/6/2025
Citation: Shelby, E.A., Mckinney, E.C., Cunningham, C.B., Simmons, A.M., Moore, A.J., Moore, P.J. 2025. Dnmt1 is required for early embryo development in the haplodiploid insect, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Journal of Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf077.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaf077

Interpretive Summary: The sweetpotato whitefly is a major pest that attacks many crops, including vegetables. Although it is difficult to manage with conventional insecticides, a strategy of disrupting certain molecules in its body that affects biological functions, such as embryo development, may be a way to reduce populations of this pest. We investigated the impact of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1, a family of enzymes) on the development of embryos. A timeline for embryonic development was defined. A loss of DNMT1 disrupted embryo development in both sexes, was not sex specific, and led to a reduced number of eggs and a reduction in egg viability. Results from this study provide insight for researchers for the development of improved whitefly management.

Technical Abstract: The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, is a major economic pest that is difficult to manage with current strategies. Despite their importance and available resources, little is known about their embryological development, including factors that affect offspring sex. Our previous work has established DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) as a candidate target gene for RNA interference (RNAi) to mediate B. tabaci pest management based on its negative effects on egg production and viability. In this study, we investigated the impact of DNMT1 on embryo development in both haploid and diploid embryos. Using maternal RNAi, mating experiments, reproductive assays, and microscopy, we found that the loss of DNMT1 function affected males and females equally. This resulted in an unaffected adult sex ratio. We also found that sex did not affect the timing of embryo development. Moreover, we found that loss of DNMT1 disrupts blastoderm development and affects nuclei morphology in both sexes. Our results suggest that DNMT1 is required for early embryonic development, but it is not sex specific.