Abstract
Growth and reproduction are the two most basic life processes of organisms and the distribution of energy in these processes is a core issue of the life history of organisms. Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), the brown planthopper (BPH), is a single-feeding rice pest. In the present study, this species was used as a model for testing the effects of nutritional conditions on various growth and reproduction indicators. First, the third-instar nymphs were fed with three different concentrations (100, 50, and 25%) of artificial diet until the second day of adulthood. The results showed that as the nutrient concentration decreased, the body development and oviposition of BPH were hindered. The total lipid content in the fat bodies was also significantly reduced. RT-PCR analysis showed compared to the 100% concentration group, the expression levels of vitellogenin (Vg) genes in the fifth-instar nymphs, adults, and in different tissues (ovary, fat body, and other tissues) were significantly decreased in the 50 and 25% treatment groups. Western blot analysis showed that Vg protein expression was highest in the 100% group, followed by the 50% group, with no expression in the 25% group. These results indicate that growth and reproduction in the BPH are regulated by, or correlated with, nutrient concentration. This study is of great significance as it reveals the adaptive strategies of the BPH to nutritional deficiencies and it also provides valuable information for the comprehensive control of this pest.
Highlights
Diseases and pests affecting the yield of rice in China hinder the country’s long history of rice cultivation
With the decrease in diet concentration, the survival rate of the brown planthopper (BPH) significantly decreased from the two-day-old thirdinstar nymphs to the two-day-old adults (Figure 2A), and the developmental period of adults was significantly shortened (Figure 2B)
Weight, survival rate, and deformity rate are often used as indicators of growth status under nutritional deficiency (Gergs et al, 2014; Pan et al, 2014)
Summary
Diseases and pests affecting the yield of rice in China hinder the country’s long history of rice cultivation. Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), the brown planthopper (BPH), is a major migratory rice pest that had outbreaks in China for three consecutive years, from 2005 to 2007, with an annual damage area of 26.67 million hectares and a direct economic loss of 15 billion yuan (Cheng et al, 2013). BPH eggs are banana-shaped and are generally found on the rice leaf ’s sheath. The species’ nymphs are oval and present five instars. Adults have lustrous dark or light brown dorsal parts and long or short wings (Fowler et al, 1991). Nymphs and adults typically cluster at the lower part of the rice stem, where they grow and develop by sucking
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