Flowers promote ovarian development and vitellogenin gene expression in Apolygus lucorum (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Abstract

Apolygus lucorum (Heteroptera: Miridae), an important herbivore feeding on a broad range of cultivated and wild plants, always shows a strong preference for flowering host plants. In a prior study, we found A. lucorum fecundity to be higher on flowering plants than on plants still at the vegetative stage. This led us to hypothesize that ovarian development and vitellogenin (Vg) expression in A. lucorum, which are highly correlated with its fecundity, might respond positively to the presence of host plant flowers as food. In this study, two types of plant foods, i.e., cotton terminals and flowers, and cotton terminals only without flowers, were examined. Adult females on terminals with flowers had higher ovarian development levels than those of similar stage held on terminals without flowers. Moreover, adults on terminals with flowers had more follicles per ovary throughout adult life than those held on terminals without flowers, and the length of the most developed ovariole of the former treatment was significantly longer than that of the latter diet. Use of qRT-PCR showed that the expression level of Vg was significantly higher in adults raised on a diet with flowers compared with those raised on the diet without flowers. These results suggest that host plant flowers significantly facilitate ovarian development and Vg gene expression of A. lucorum adults.

A transgenic strategy for controlling plant bugs (Adelphocoris suturalis) through expression of double‐stranded RNA homologous to fatty acyl‐coenzyme A reductase in cotton

“…We cannot exclude the possibility that the reduction in dry matter accumulation results in a loss of ovary dry weight. The physiology of ovarian development is directly related to the individual's fecundity (Zhang et al ., ). The loss of female lifetime fecundity may be mainly caused by oocyte depletion, since the POP and adult longevity were not different between RNAi and control treatments.…”

Effects of Different Parts of the Rose Flower on the Development, Fecundity, and Life Parameters of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

“…Extrafloral nectar can provide an important contribution to population growth and maintenance of the predator Iphiseius degenerans on Ricinus communis [ 49 ]. Several previous studies also reported that pollen, nectar, and honey solution were added into food of insects and were more conducive to their growth and reproduction [ 44 , 50 ]. In our previous studies, we found that rose flowers and 10% honey solution + kidney bean pods had higher soluble sugar content and protein content, while these contents were lower in rose petals and kidney bean pods [ 51 ].…”

The Role of Turnera subulata and Cosmos sulphureus Flowers in the Life of Anagrus nilaparvatae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

“…Haryati (2016) reported that A. nilaparvatae fed with honey started to emerge at the 12 th to 14 th day. The early emergence of A. nilaparvatae in the treatments of T. subulata and C. sulphureus flowers indicates that nutrients from the flowers may be able to optimize the level of vitellogenin (a precursor protein of yolk) (Zhang et al, 2016) which then increasing the maturation of eggs (Tylianakis et al, 2004). Thus, eggs hatch quickly and accelerate the process of parasitization.…”