Dynamics of Toona ciliata transcriptome in response to a polyphagous herbivore, Hypsipyla robusta Moore

Background: Toona ciliata is a traditional woody plant that can be used as a medicinal material in China. The extracts of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers all have a wide range of bioactivities. However, T. ciliata has been facing an unresolved pest problem caused by Hypsipyla robusta Moore (HRM), which seriously affects its growth and development. Results In this study, transcriptome sequencing of young stems was eaten by HRM for 0, 3, 12, and 21h were performed. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DGEs) were identified including jointly up-regulated genes (263) and down-regulated genes (378). JA synthesis and signaling transduction, terpene biosynthesis, and MAPKs signaling pathway were analyzed in depth and found that some key genes TcOPR3, TcJAR1, TcJAZs , and TcTPS9 possessed anti-insect potential. Moreover, MYBs and ERFs transcription factor family were significantly strengthened that may participate in induced defense mechanism in T. ciliata . Conclusions The novel transcriptome and DGE profiling provide an important resource for functional genomics during HRM stress in T. ciliata . These data not only provide insights into the molecular mechanisms in resistance of T. ciliata to HRM but also helps to explore the new biocontrol strategies against insects in eco-friendly woody plant.