The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål, BPH) is one of the most devastating insect pests of rice (Oryza sativa L.), but BPH populations have varying degrees of virulence to rice varieties carrying different resistance genes. To help efforts to characterize these variations we applied bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-seq) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and genetic loci associated with BPH virulence to YHY15 rice plants carrying the resistance gene Bph15. BPHs that are highly virulent or avirulent to these plants were selected from an F2 population to form two contrasting bulks, and BSR-seq identified 751 DEGs between the bulks. Genes associated with carbohydrate, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, the endocrine system, and signal transduction were upregulated in the avirulent insects when they fed on these plants. The results also indicated that shifts in lipid metabolism and digestive system pathways were crucial for the virulent BPHs’ adaptation to the resistant rice. We identified 24 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 21 genes linked with BPH virulence. Possible roles of genes apparently linked to BPH virulence are discussed. Our results provide potentially valuable information for further studies of BPH virulence mechanisms and development of robust control strategies.

褐飞虱（褐飞虱Stål, BPH) 是最具破坏性的水稻害虫之一 (水稻L.)，但 BPH 种群对携带不同抗性基因的水稻品种具有不同程度的毒力。为了帮助描述这些变异，我们应用批量分离 RNA 测序 (BSR-seq) 来鉴定与携带抗性基因的 YHY15 水稻植物的 BPH 毒力相关的差异表达基因 (DEG) 和基因位点Bph15。从 F2 种群中选择对这些植物具有高毒性或无毒力的 BPH，形成两个对比鲜明的群体，BSR-seq 确定了两个群体之间的 751°。当无毒昆虫以这些植物为食时，与碳水化合物、氨基酸和核苷酸代谢、内分泌系统和信号转导相关的基因被上调。结果还表明，脂质代谢和消化系统途径的变化对于毒性BPHs适应抗性水稻至关重要。我们在 21 个与 BPH 毒力相关的基因中鉴定了 24 个单核苷酸多态性 (SNP)。讨论了与 BPH 毒力明显相关的基因的可能作用。我们的结果为进一步研究 BPH 毒力机制和制定稳健的控制策略提供了潜在的有价值的信息。