Changes in Chemical Composition and Accumulation of Cryoprotectants as the Adaptation of Anholocyclic Aphid Cinara tujafilina to Overwintering

Roma Durak,Tomasz Durak,Ireneusz Kapusta,Joanna Kisała,Joanna Depciuch

doi:10.3390/ijms22020511

Abstract

One of the consequences of climate change is the expansion of insects’ ranges. Colonization of new habitats forces insects to adapt to new conditions, such as low temperatures in winter. Cinara tujafilina is a thermophilic anholocyclic aphid species, which reproduce exclusively parthenogenetic throughout the year, including winter. On the areas where the populations of C. tujafilina had expanded, it demonstrated its adaptation for surviving colder winters. Based on analyses of changes in body chemical composition using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and changes in cryoprotectant content using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we showed how aphid C. tujafilina adapted to overwintering as an active stage. In the FTIR spectrum of the winter type of C. tujafilina, higher peak values originating from the carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, were observed. Glucose, trehalose, mannitol, myo-inositol and glycerol were identified in the aphid body in winter as main putative cryoprotectants to increase the insects’ tolerance to cold. The complex sugar-polyol cryoprotectant system facilitates aphids’ survival in unfavorable low temperatures.

Highlights

Climate changes affect the distribution and life cycles of insects
In all obtained Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, the same peaks corresponding to functional groups building body chemical compositions of C. tujafilina, were analyzed
In the FTIR spectrum of winter type of C. tujafilina, higher values of peaks originating from the carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, were observed in comparison with FTIR spectrum of summer type of C. tujafilina

Summary

Introduction

Climate changes affect the distribution and life cycles of insects. The spread of species and colonization of new habitats forces insects to adapt to new conditions, such as low temperatures in winter. Insects have developed behavioral and physiological adaptations to survive low temperatures during winter months. Amino-acids and sugars (especially trehalose) have cryoprotecting properties, by protecting enzymes and membrane structure under stress caused by low temperatures [5]. Polyols regulate the amount of water available for freezing and, reduce the extent of cell dehydration caused by extracellular freezing. They protect the structures of biological membranes and proteins during dehydration caused by freezing [4,7]. Many authors point to an increase in sugars and polyols during insect diapause [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion