Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids

In the Philippines, <i>Bombyx mori</i> parental strains Lat21 and B221 are crossed to yield NC144 and CN144, which demonstrate hybrid vigor. The molecular basis of the observed vigor in the hybrids is warranted, as it may assist in improving local sericulture programs. This study, theref...

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Main Authors: Ma. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde, Jose Planta, Ma. Anita M. Bautista
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/243
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author Ma. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde
Jose Planta
Ma. Anita M. Bautista
author_facet Ma. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde
Jose Planta
Ma. Anita M. Bautista
author_sort Ma. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde
collection DOAJ
description In the Philippines, <i>Bombyx mori</i> parental strains Lat21 and B221 are crossed to yield NC144 and CN144, which demonstrate hybrid vigor. The molecular basis of the observed vigor in the hybrids is warranted, as it may assist in improving local sericulture programs. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the basis of hybrid vigor and generate molecular resources through whole-silkworm larvae transcriptome sequencing, assembly, and analysis. Differential gene expression was also conducted among the parental strains and hybrids. Assembly of the pre-processed reads was also performed using de novo and reference-based protocols. As expected, the reference-based assembly was better than de novo, based on E90N50, N50, and BUSCO assembly completeness metrics. The Analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed 202 upregulated and 182 downregulated genes in the hybrids (with the parents as the reference) and 66 upregulated and 753 downregulated genes in NC144 (with CN144 as the reference). Among these were genes encoding heat shock proteins and antimicrobial peptides, which may serve as markers for marker-assisted breeding. The genes were further validated using quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, the inducible nature of these genes under stressors like extreme temperature and bacterial exposure suggests their potential as diagnostic tools for stress assessment.
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spelling doaj-art-44e29733db194f5086582a07b4a9a3832025-08-20T01:48:46ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-02-0116324310.3390/insects16030243Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> HybridsMa. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde0Jose Planta1Ma. Anita M. Bautista2National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesNational Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesNational Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesIn the Philippines, <i>Bombyx mori</i> parental strains Lat21 and B221 are crossed to yield NC144 and CN144, which demonstrate hybrid vigor. The molecular basis of the observed vigor in the hybrids is warranted, as it may assist in improving local sericulture programs. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the basis of hybrid vigor and generate molecular resources through whole-silkworm larvae transcriptome sequencing, assembly, and analysis. Differential gene expression was also conducted among the parental strains and hybrids. Assembly of the pre-processed reads was also performed using de novo and reference-based protocols. As expected, the reference-based assembly was better than de novo, based on E90N50, N50, and BUSCO assembly completeness metrics. The Analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed 202 upregulated and 182 downregulated genes in the hybrids (with the parents as the reference) and 66 upregulated and 753 downregulated genes in NC144 (with CN144 as the reference). Among these were genes encoding heat shock proteins and antimicrobial peptides, which may serve as markers for marker-assisted breeding. The genes were further validated using quantitative real-time PCR. Moreover, the inducible nature of these genes under stressors like extreme temperature and bacterial exposure suggests their potential as diagnostic tools for stress assessment.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/243<i>Bombyx mori</i>silkwormtranscriptome analysisRNA sequencingdifferential gene expressionheterosis
spellingShingle Ma. Ysabella Elaine D. Conde
Jose Planta
Ma. Anita M. Bautista
Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
Insects
<i>Bombyx mori</i>
silkworm
transcriptome analysis
RNA sequencing
differential gene expression
heterosis
title Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
title_full Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
title_fullStr Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
title_full_unstemmed Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
title_short Transcriptomic Profiling Provides Insight into the Molecular Basis of Heterosis in Philippine-Reared <i>Bombyx mori</i> Hybrids
title_sort transcriptomic profiling provides insight into the molecular basis of heterosis in philippine reared i bombyx mori i hybrids
topic <i>Bombyx mori</i>
silkworm
transcriptome analysis
RNA sequencing
differential gene expression
heterosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/3/243
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