Function of Vitellogenin receptor gene in reproductive regulation of
Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) under the high-temperature background
Abstract
Climate warming has increased the frequency of extreme heat events, and
Zeugodacus cucurbitae , as an important tropical pest,extreme heat tends
to change its reproductive strategies.To clarify the reproductive
strategies of Z. cucurbitae under the background of high temperature, Z.
cucurbitae were exposed to short-term high temperatures of
25°C,33°C,37°C,41°C,and 45°C for 1h in this paper, and effects of these
temperatures on the reproduction of Z. cucurbitae in three consecutive
generations (F1,F2,and F3 generations) were evaluated, followed by using
siRNA to interfere with the expression of Vitellogenin receptor(VgR)
gene and evaluated the silencing efficiency of RNAi.The results showed
that(1) short-time high temperature was generally detrimental to the
reproduction of Z. cucurbitae, but the F1 exposed at 45°C for 1h
stimulated its oviposition and when the offspring (F2andF3) were
continuously exposed to 45°C-1h short-term high temperature,F3 could not
survive.(2) After short-time high-temperature treatment, the injection
of siRNA resulted in significant inhibition of VgR gene expression at
24h and72h.The total oviposition quantity, oviposition days, and
hatchability of eggs after the interference were significantly lower
than the other groups, and the inhibition effect of total oviposition
quantity was the most obvious, decreasing by 88.4% and 95.2% at 25°C
and 45°C, respectively, compared with the control check (CK). The
ovarian development and ovarian diameter were also significantly lower
than the other groups. In conclusion, the VgR gene is essential for the
regulation of reproduction in Z. cucurbitae.This study can provide a
reference for the integrated control of Z. cucurbitae in the
high-temperature seas