Transcriptome analysis of egg diapause of Ceracris kiangsu Tsai and screening of diapause-related genes

The Ceracris kiangsu Tsai eggs overwinter and reproduce via embryonic diapause. To investigate the pathways and genes associated with egg diapause, we performed transcriptome sequencing on diapause eggs (HJD) and post-diapause eggs (HJDT). The sequencing yielded 89 561 unigenes. GO annotation assigned all unigenes to 55 functional categories, with the greatest number in “cellular process.” KEGG enrichment analysis identified significant enrichment in 32 pathways, among which the “translation” pathway was particularly pronounced. By combining GO annotations and KEGG enrichment results and comparing them with the GeneCards and NCBI databases, we identified 25 differentially expressed genes. These DEGs were enriched in five pathways related to egg growth and development, including 10 genes significantly associated with diapause. This study preliminarily elucidates the molecular mechanisms of egg diapause in Ceracris kiangsu Tsai, providing insights into its molecular regulation and a theoretical basis for pest control targeting the egg stage.