A Horizontally Transferred Plant Fatty Acid Desaturase Gene Steers Whitefly Reproduction (Adv. Sci. 10/2024)

Horizontal Gene Transfer Members of the Bemisia tabaci (whiteflies) species complex are notorious invasive and extremely polyphagous agricultural pests worldwide. In article number 2306653, Ted C. J. Turlings, Youjun Zhang, and co-workers reveal that whiteflies co-opt a plant-derived Δ12 desaturases gene BtFAD2-9 to produce essential nutrients polyunsaturated fatty acids, which give the whitefly enhanced fecundity. The cover shows a female adult whitefly pierces a tobacco phloem with its stylet and produces numerous eggs. The study shows that, thanks to the BtFAD2-9 gene, B. tabaci achieve self-sufficient in polyunsaturated fatty acids and escape from host nutrient dependence. Image credit: Cheng Gong and Zhaojiang Guo (first authors).