Low temperature acclimated populations of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae retain ability to rapidly cold harden with enhanced fitness

SJ Powell, Jeffrey Bale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

contrast to previous studies of rapid cold-hardening (RCH), which have investigated the responses of insects maintained under 'summer conditions' (20 degrees to 25 degrees C), this study focuses on the ability of low-temperature acclimated insects to undergo RCH. When the grain aphid Sitobion avenae Fabricus was low-temperature acclimated by rearing for three generations at 10 degrees C, the discriminating temperatures (temperature that results in approximately 20% survival after direct transfer from the rearing temperature to a sub-zero temperature for a period of 3 h), of first instar nymphs and adult aphids were -11.5 degrees and -12 degrees C, respectively. Maximum rapid cold-hardening was induced by cooling aphids at 0 degrees C for 2 h (nymphs) or 30 min (adults), resulting in survival at the respective discriminating temperatures increasing from 26% to 96% (nymphs) and 22% to 70% (adults). Cooling from 10 degrees to 0 degrees C at 1 degrees, 0.1 degrees and 0.05 degrees C min(-1) significantly increased survival of nymphs at the discriminating temperature, but not of adults. There were no 'ecological costs' associated with rapid cold-hardening at 0 degrees C, or with exposure of rapidly cold-hardened aphids to the discriminating temperatures; fecundity and longevity, in both nymphs and adults were either similar to control aphids or significantly increased. The study demonstrates that rapid cold-hardening ability is retained in aphids that have already undergone cold-acclimation, as would be the case in overwintering aphids. Both rapid cold-hardening and subsequent exposure at previously lethal temperatures can enhance fitness in surviving individuals.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2615-2620
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Experimental Biology
Volume208
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

Keywords

  • aphid
  • fitness
  • Sitobion avenae
  • seasonal acclimation
  • rapid cold-hardening

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