Transcriptomes of pentatomid salivary glands

Recent transcriptomic analyses suggest that polyphagous herbivores are often aided by production of more diverse proteins involved in digestion and overcoming plant defense. Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) typically feed and develop on a wide host range of unrelated plant species as well as different plant tissues. During feeding, stink bugs discharge salivary enzymes with roles in extraoral digestion and countering host plant defense responses. Although previous research has described digestive salivary proteins from stink bugs, less is known of the salivary proteins involved in suppression of plant defense responses, a potential key to feeding on a wide range of plants. We sequenced transcriptomes from dissected salivary glands from five Pentatomid species: Halyomorpha halys, Nezara viridula, Euschistus conspersus, Thyanta pallidovirens, and Chlorochroa ligata, in Washington State. We identified a total of 677 secreted proteins from salivary glands of the five species, with likely roles in extraoral digestion, suppression of plant defense signaling, deactivation of plant defense molecules, antimicrobial activity, and deposition of salivary sheaths. This report provides a foundation for identification of key effector salivary proteins from Pentatomids and may help explain their wide host range.