Abstract
Climate change, and in particular the increase in temperature we are currently observing, can affect herbivorous insects. Aphids, as poikilothermic organisms, are directly exposed to temperature increases that influence their metabolism. Heat stress causes disturbances between the generations and the neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this work is focused on explaining how the aphid, using the example of Aphis pomi, responds to abiotic stress caused by temperature increase. The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions at three temperatures: 20, 25, and 28 °C. In the first stage, changes in the activity of enzymatic markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), β-glucosidase, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD)) were determined in aphid tissues, at each temperature. In the second stage, microcalorimetry monitored changes in heat emitted by aphids, at each temperature. Our results showed that A. pomi defense responses varied depending on temperature and were highest at 28 °C. The flexible activity of enzymes and increase in the metabolic rate played the role of adaptive mechanisms and ran more effectively at higher temperatures. The A. pomi thus protected itself against ROS excessive induction and the aphids were able to respond quickly to environmental stress.
Highlights
We are currently observing climate changes that may influence herbivorous insects
We observed a significant increase in activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), occurring after 24 h and 48 h at 25 and 28 ◦ C
It was shown that SOD and CAT activity in the tissues of Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae was associated with a change in the host plant and higher activity was observed in polyphagous aphids [14]
Summary
Temperature is an important factor that affects distribution and life cycles in insects. Like other insects, are poikilothermic organisms; they reproduce only within a certain temperature range. These insects have narrow thermal tolerance, and their rate of development depends on temperature. Aphids have a number of features desirable for model organisms, such as: rapid development of generations, high number of generations, high fertility of females, and telescopic generations that allow shortening of development [4,6]. These features allow aphids to react quickly to climate change. The increase in temperature influences the biology of insects but Insects 2020, 11, 436; doi:10.3390/insects11070436 www.mdpi.com/journal/insects
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