Times for recovery from cold-torpor in the Queensland fruit fly Dacus tryoni: the relation to temperature during and after chilling

Recovery time after experience of a given minimum temperature below torpor threshold is related to the value of that minimum, the length of time spent at that minimum, and the temperature prevailing during the recovery period above torpor threshold. A model can predict recovery time for flies experiencing a given temperature fluctuation if the length of time spent at the minimum is expressed as a proportion of LE₅₀ at that minimum.The model has applications in defining the optimal protocol for chilling insects for use in the Sterile Insect Release Method. The model was confirmed by experiments showing that it is likely that flies will recover from non-lethal frosts before ant predators become active.

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Résumé Le temps de récupération après avoir subi une température minimal située au-dessous du seuil d'engourdissement dépend de la valeur de ce minimum, du temps passé à ce minimum, et de la température au-dessus du seuil d'engourdissement pendant la période de récupération. Un modèle mathématique permet d'estimer le temps de récupération après avoir subi une chute de température déterminée, en fonction du temps passé au minimum thermique exprimé comme une fraction du LE₅₀ (temps nécessaire pour tuer 50% des mouches) à ce minimum.Ce modèle s'est trouvé étayé par des observations montrant qu'il est probable que les mouches se remettent des gelées sublétales avant la reprise d'activité des fourmis prédatrices. Ce modèle peut être utilisé pour définir les conditions optimales de refroidissement des insectes utilisés lors de la libération d'individus stériles.

     

Dormancy in peach (Prunus persica L.) flower buds

Morphological studies were carried out with peach flower buds collected monthly in 1989 and 1990, from two months before leaf fall (7 March) until two to three weeks before bloom (7/8 August). Chilled (2–4°C for 30 days) and unchilled buds were exposed to 20 to 25°C, 100% RH and continuous light. Gibberellin A₃ (3 ng or 30 ng) was applied to some of the non-chilled cuttings at three days intervals. Then, 12, 19, and 26 days after they were planted, the buds were sampled and processed for histological studies. Cultured flower buds (chilled or unchilled) had accelerated anther and gynoecium morphogenesis after 12 days under controlled conditions, compared to buds processed immediately after collection from the field. Chilling treatment augmented the bud culture effect, while Gibberellin A₃ applications to the excised buds retarded bud morphogenesis to a stage comparable to that of buds collected directly from the field. This, suggests that the comparatively high levels of Gibberellin A_1/3 we previously found in mid winter [15, 18] could be at least one of the factors that controls floral bud dormancy by retarding anther and gynoecium development.     

Effects of low temperature on diapause termination and body colour change in adults of a stink bug, Plautia stali

Abstract. Diapause adults of Plautia stali Scott maintained at 20°C under short day conditions (LD 12:12 h) were exposed to four temperatures of 5–20°C to examine the effect on diapause development which was assessed in terms of oviposition. Diapause adults kept at 20°C under short day conditions changed their body colour gradually from brown to green and started egg laying after a prolonged preoviposition period. Those transferred to either 10 or 15°C also showed colour change but did not lay eggs. Bugs exposed to 5°C underwent neither body colour change nor oviposition and died more rapidly than those kept at higher temperatures. When 30-day-old diapause adults were chilled at 5, 10 or 15°C for 30 or 60 days and returned to 20°C and long day conditions (LD 16:8 h), the preoviposition period varied primarily depending on the chilling, but not on the temperature. On the other hand, when 60day-old diapause adults chilled for 30 days were observed at 20°C and long day conditions, their preoviposition period tended to be longer as the chilling temperature was lower In this case, a temperature of 10°C appeared to intensify diapause. Therefore, the effect of chilling on diapause development varied depending on the age at which insects were chilled. When chilled bugs were transferred to short day conditions at 20°C, most females failed to lay any eggs and some turned green, then after a while, some green bugs changed to brown again. These results indicate that bugs remained sensitive to short day conditions even after a 60-day chilling at 10 or 15°C.     

Long‐term changes in the impacts of global warming on leaf phenology of four temperate tree species

Contrary to the generally advanced spring leaf unfolding under global warming, the effects of the climate warming on autumn leaf senescence are highly variable with advanced, delayed, and unchanged patterns being all reported. Using one million records of leaf phenology from four dominant temperate species in Europe, we investigated the temperature sensitivities of spring leaf unfolding and autumn leaf senescence (S_T, advanced or delayed days per degree Celsius). The S_T of spring phenology in all of the four examined species showed an increase and decrease during 1951–1980 and 1981–2013, respectively. The decrease in the S_T during 1981–2013 appears to be caused by reduced accumulation of chilling units. As with spring phenology, the S_T of leaf senescence of early successional and exotic species started to decline since 1980. In contrast, for late successional species, the S_T of autumn senescence showed an increase for the entire study period from 1951 to 2013. Moreover, the impacts of rising temperature associated with global warming on spring leaf unfolding were stronger than those on autumn leaf senescence. The timing of leaf senescence was positively correlated with the timing of leaf unfolding during 1951–1980. However, as climate warming continued, the differences in the responses between spring and autumn phenology gradually increased, so that the correlation was no more significant during 1981–2013. Our results further suggest that since 2000, due to the decreased temperature sensitivity of leaf unfolding the length of the growing season has not increased any more. These finding needs to be addressed in vegetation models used for assessing the effects of climate change.     

薰衣草叶片对低温胁迫的生理与分子响应机制

薰衣草(Lavandula angustifolia)作为名贵的芳香植物, 其生长、繁育、品质和产量均受低温影响。前期研究已获得1个耐低温薰衣草品种。该研究将对其处理的温度从20°C降至0°C, 揭示薰衣草响应冷胁迫的生理及分子调控机制, 同时结合薰衣草的细胞质膜透性、可溶性糖和蛋白质含量及抗氧化酶活性等生理变化。采用转录组学和生物信息学方法挖掘分析相关耐寒基因, 并探讨外施水杨酸缓解-10°C冻胁迫的可行性。研究发现7个编码脂肪酸去饱和酶和转移酶的基因(LaFADs)、3个参与合成可溶性糖的基因(LaBAM1和LaSS2)、19个编码胚胎晚期丰富蛋白的基因(LaLEAs)及7个编码过氧化物酶的基因(LaPODs), 这些基因在低温胁迫下均上调表达, 指导薰衣草合成并积累保护物质, 维持膜稳定性以应对胁迫。此外, 150 mg·L^-1水杨酸预处理能有效缓解植株冻害, 可作为低温保护剂。该研究丰富了薰衣草重要抗逆基因家族的遗传背景, 为后续分子遗传学功能分析和定向品种改良奠定基础。     

Increased heat requirement for leaf flushing in temperate woody species over 1980–2012: effects of chilling,precipitation and insolation

Recent studies have revealed large unexplained variation in heat requirement‐based phenology models, resulting in large uncertainty when predicting ecosystem carbon and water balance responses to climate variability. Improving our understanding of the heat requirement for spring phenology is thus urgently needed. In this study, we estimated the species‐specific heat requirement for leaf flushing of 13 temperate woody species using long‐term phenological observations from Europe and North America. The species were defined as early and late flushing species according to the mean date of leaf flushing across all sites. Partial correlation analyses were applied to determine the temporal correlations between heat requirement and chilling accumulation, precipitation and insolation sum during dormancy. We found that the heat requirement for leaf flushing increased by almost 50% over the study period 1980–2012, with an average of 30 heat units per decade. This temporal increase in heat requirement was observed in all species, but was much larger for late than for early flushing species. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the heat requirement negatively correlates with chilling accumulation. Interestingly, after removing the variation induced by chilling accumulation, a predominantly positive partial correlation exists between heat requirement and precipitation sum, and a predominantly negative correlation between heat requirement and insolation sum. This suggests that besides the well‐known effect of chilling, the heat requirement for leaf flushing is also influenced by precipitation and insolation sum during dormancy. However, we hypothesize that the observed precipitation and insolation effects might be artefacts attributable to the inappropriate use of air temperature in the heat requirement quantification. Rather than air temperature, meristem temperature is probably the prominent driver of the leaf flushing process, but these data are not available. Further experimental research is thus needed to verify whether insolation and precipitation sums directly affect the heat requirement for leaf flushing.     

低温胁迫下枇杷幼果种子膜脂过氧化、保护酶活性及显微结构的变化

枇杷(Eriobotrya japonica)开花结果正值冬季低温期,易受低温影响,因此寒害成为抑制枇杷健康生长、发育的重要因素之一。种子作为产生多种内源激素的中心,其健康程度与枇杷果实正常发育息息相关。该研究以四川省成都市龙泉驿区柏合镇的‘早钟六号’枇杷幼果种子为材料,经不同低温(6、3、0、-3℃)胁迫不同时间(12、24、36、48 h)后,对其相对电导率、丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)的变化进行测定以及细胞解剖结构分析,旨在探究枇杷幼果种子抗寒机制,为提高四川地区枇杷抗寒栽培新技术提供理论和实践依据。结果表明:低温胁迫下,枇杷幼果种子相对电导率及MDA含量随着处理温度的降低整体呈上升趋势;保护酶SOD、CAT活性在低温胁迫前期不同程度升高,至某个低温后呈下降趋势;而POD活性总体呈升-降-升趋势;相对电导率、MDA含量、SOD活性、CAT活性、POD活性的变化临界温度均为6℃,胁迫临界时间分别为12、24、48、36 h,而MDA含量变化临界温度为3℃,胁迫临界时间为36 h;显微结构表明枇杷幼果种子6℃低温开始受冻,最先受冻部位为种皮,其次为种胚真叶原始体或真叶,最后到细胞破裂,说明枇杷幼果种子随着处理温度降低,细胞结构受损越严重。综上,枇杷幼果种子受冻临界温度为6℃,受冻临界时间为12 h。     

Preconditioning treatment induces chilling tolerance in zucchini fruit improving different physiological mechanisms against cold injury

Zucchini fruit is susceptible to develop chilling injuries (CI) when stored at low temperature. In this study, the effects of a preconditioning treatment during cold storage and its relation with the physiological response to chilling tolerance have been investigated. The commercial variety Sinatra, whose fruit are very sensitive to cold storage, has been used. After harvest, fruit were kept at 4°C or preconditioned during 48 h at 15°C before cold storage. Weight loss, electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation were lower in preconditioned at the end of storage time, and CI index was significantly reduced in preconditioned compared to control fruit. The preconditioning treatment improved the energy status of the fruit increasing the pool of ATP, and maintaining the energy charge. The preconditioned fruit improved their antioxidant status with lower H₂O₂ content and induction of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activities. A reduction in putrescine was detected in preconditioned fruit along with a lower expression of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and a rise in activity of diamine oxidase (DAO). The concentrations of glutamate and γ‐aminobutyrate (GABA) were lower during preconditioning, while that of proline was higher. In summary, preconditioning treatment induces chilling tolerance in zucchini fruit triggering a defence‐response against oxidative stress and increasing ATP pool and proline content.     

Evidence for ACD5 ceramide kinase activity involvement in Arabidopsis response to cold stress

Although sphingolipids emerged as important signals for plant response to low temperature, investigations have been limited so far to the function of long‐chain base intermediates. The formation and function of ceramide phosphates (Cer‐Ps) in chilled Arabidopsis were explored. Cer‐Ps were analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) following in vivo metabolic radiolabelling. Ceramide kinase activity, gene expression and growth phenotype were determined in unstressed and cold‐stressed wild type (WT) and Arabidopsis ceramide kinase mutant acd5. A rapid and transient formation of Cer‐P occurs in cold‐stressed WT Arabidopsis plantlets and cultured cells, which is strongly impaired in acd5 mutant. Although concomitant, Cer‐P formation is independent of long‐chain base phosphate (LCB‐P) formation. No variation of ceramide kinase activity was measured in vitro in WT plantlets upon cold stress but the activity in acd5 mutant was further reduced by cold stress. At the seedling stage, acd5 response to cold was similar to that of WT. Nevertheless, acd5 seed germination was hypersensitive to cold and abscisic acid (ABA), and ABA‐dependent gene expression was modified in acd5 seeds when germinated at low temperature. Our data involve for the first time Cer‐P and ACD5 in low temperature response and further underline the complexity of sphingolipid signalling operating during cold stress.