Scientists discovered that the diamondback moth — a destructive pest of cabbage, broccoli, and other vegetables worldwide — has two key receptor proteins that control reproduction in surprisingly different ways. Knocking out one receptor (PxTAR1A) nearly halved the moth's egg hatching rate, revealing a promising biological target for new pesticides.
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Knocking out the PxTAR1A receptor collapsed egg hatching rates from 81% to 47%, with embryos arresting late in development.
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PxTAR1A-deficient moths also showed a 24% drop in total eggs laid (194 down to 148 eggs per female).
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PxTAR1A is expressed 14.6-fold higher than the related PxTAR2 receptor in embryos, confirming it as the dominant regulator of early diamondback moth development.
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