Dietary lufenuron reduces egg hatch and influences protein expression in the fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel)

Authors: Chang, Chiou; CHO, IL KYU - University Of Hawaii; LI, QING XIAO - University Of Hawaii; Geib, Scott; Stanley, David

Submitted to: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2014
Publication Date: 7/18/2014
Citation: Chang, C.L., Cho, I., Li, Q., Geib, S.M., Stanley, D.W. 2014. Dietary lufenuron reduces egg hatch and influences protein expression in the fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel). Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 86(4):193-208..

Interpretive Summary: The Solanaceous fruit fly is a wide-spread pest of fruit and vegetable agriculture thoughout the Pacific Islands and South East Asia. Little work has been done to develop suppression techniques for this fruit fly species. Currently, the most effective technique is to use a commercially available bait spray, GF-120NF Fruit Fly Bait in the field. Previously, we did a laboratory evaluation of lufenuron(LFN)against Ceratitis capitata, B. dorsalis, B.cucurbitae,and B.latifrons larvae and adults to identify the chemosterilant effect. We found the effect on fertility was dosage dependent. Fertility of B.latifrons adults fed on 50 ug/ml lufenuron incorporated diet was about 62% of the control while fecundity was not affected. We hypothesized that the egg lethal effect may be induced by inhibition of chitin synthesis of growing embryos because lufenuron is a chitin synthesis inhibitor. The objective of this research is to extend our previous finding(Chang et al.,2012) to find out each sex's contribution to the sterilizing effects on B. latifrons both biologically and molecularly, and to what extent.

Technical Abstract: Newly emerged virgin adults were fed for 12 days with various concentrations of lufenuron incorporated agar diet until sexual maturation. After maturation, pairing tests were conducted. At 12 days old, eggs were collected and egg production and egg hatch were assessed. The results showed that lufenuron did cause the decrease of percent egg hatch with the increased concentrations, if both were fed with LFN incorporated diet. However, if females were fed with LFN-treated diet and males were fed with control diet before pairing, then the food provided after pairing would affect both significantly on egg hatchability. Adults fed with LFN treated diet after pairing has a lower hatchability than those fed on control diet. If females were fed with control diet and males were fed with with LFN-treated diet before pairing, then there is no significant effect if continue to feed with control diet after pairing, otherwise, some effects were shown if fed with LFN-treated diet after pairing. This finding concluded that lufenuron may not be a permanent sterile agent unless both females and males fed on a lufenuron treated diet. A proteomic analysis identified that there are two differentially expressed proteins(chitin and odorant binding protein) between adults fed on lufenuron and control diets. Real time PCR comfirmed the finding from proteomics analysis by significantly increased realtive mRNA expression level of abovementioned two proteins.