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Published on: June 15, 2020
Cold acclimation increases cold tolerance independently of diapause programing in the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris
J Rozsypal1, M Moos1, S G Goto2
1Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences,České Budějovice,Czech Republic.
Bulletin of Entomological Research
|October 18, 2017
Summary
Cold acclimation significantly enhances bean bug (Riptortus pedestris) survival in cold temperatures. Diapause is not essential for this cold tolerance, suggesting other factors are more critical for insect survival.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Insect Physiology
- Pest Management
Background:
- Riptortus pedestris, a legume pest, exhibits facultative adult diapause triggered by short days.
- Understanding R. pedestris cold tolerance and the influence of diapause is limited.
- Photoperiodism and diapause are known, but cold hardiness mechanisms require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of photoperiod, cold acclimation, and feeding status on R. pedestris cold tolerance.
- To determine if adult diapause is critical for developing cold tolerance in R. pedestris.
- To explore the relationship between supercooling capacity, water content, and cold tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of adult and nymph R. pedestris to different photoperiods (long/short days).
- Application of cold acclimation treatments at varying temperatures.
- Assessment of survival rates at -10°C and analysis of supercooling capacity and metabolite concentrations.
Main Results:
- Cold acclimation significantly improved survival in both long-day and short-day adult R. pedestris.
- The difference in cold survival between diapausing and non-diapausing cold-acclimated groups was minimal.
- Cold acclimation increased cold tolerance in nymphs, while starvation had a negligible negative impact on adults.
- Supercooling capacity decreased with cold acclimation, suggesting it is unrelated to enhanced cold tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Entering diapause is not essential for R. pedestris to achieve cold tolerance through acclimation.
- Cold acclimation is the primary factor enhancing cold hardiness in R. pedestris, irrespective of diapause.
- Changes in supercooling capacity and water content do not correlate with improved cold tolerance in this species.
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