Dynamic expression analysis of Vitelloin-related genes in Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) driven by short-term...

Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is an important pest of fruit and vegetable crops in tropical and subtropical regions. Previous studies have shown that short-term high-temperature stress has a significant effect on the oviposition behavior of three successive generations (F₁ -F₃ ) of Z. cucurbitae (Coquillett). For the clarification of the molecular response of the oviposition behavior of Z. cucurbitae (Coquillett) to short-term high-temperature stress, three Vitellogenin (Vg) genes, namely, Vg-1, Vg-2, and Vg-3, and one Vitellogenin receptor (VgR) gene were selected; 25°C was used as the control treatment; and 33°C, 37°C, 41°C, and 45°C were set as the high-temperature treatments. Newly emerged adults of the F₁ generation were treated for 1 h, and the expression dynamics of the target genes were analyzed 7 days after the emergence of three successive generations of adults. Results showed that the expression of the Vg gene in the 33°C and 37°C groups was upregulated compared with that in the control group, and the difference among the 41°C, 45°C, and control groups was small. VgR gene expression level gradually increased in each treatment group with the increase in the number of days and peaked on Days 6 and 7. Compared with the control group, the expression of VgR gene in the F₁ generation was downregulated in the high-temperature treatment group over 7 days. On Day 7, the expression level of the VgR gene in the F₂ and F₃ generations in the 37°C and 45°C groups was significantly higher than that in the F₂ and F₃ generations in the control group. In conclusion, Vg and VgR are transformed and utilized differently after short-term high-temperature treatment.