高温处理后褐飞虱体内共生酵母菌和氨基酸需求的变化

对卵期高温（35℃,72 h）处理后褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens体内共生酵母菌及该虫氨基酸需求的变化进行了研究,结果表明：1）卵期高温处理后,若虫期体内的共生酵母菌数量明显低于正常对照试虫;2）将若虫饲养于缺少单种氨基酸的22种全纯饲料上,以若虫羽化率为指标,发现高温处理试虫对组氨酸、赖氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、苏氨酸、缬氨酸、苯丙氨酸和色氨酸等8种必需氨基酸的需求明显增加。由此推论,褐飞虱对上述8种必需氨基酸的需求与共生酵母菌有关。     

共生菌在褐飞虱致害性变化中的作用

研究了不同虫源和致害性褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens种群体内共生菌数量动态及其对褐飞虱在抗虫品种上的取食选择、生长发育、繁殖以及氨基酸转移酶活性的影响。结果表明,褐飞虱田间种群的致害性与其体内共生菌数量有关。广西南宁种群雌成虫体内的共生菌数量显著地高于浙江杭州和龙游两个虫源的雌成虫体内共生菌数量,而已纯化的3个不同致害性生物型体内的共生菌数量无显著差异。取食抗性品种能显著减少生物型Ⅰ雌成虫体内的共生菌数量。缺乏共生菌时,生物型Ⅰ、Ⅱ若虫对水稻品种TN1和ASD7的选择性增大,而对Mudgo的取食选择性下降。尽管缺共生菌的3个生物型在已适应的和不适应的感虫和抗虫品种上的若虫存活率和雌成虫产卵量均下降,若虫历期明显延长,但在已适应品种上的变化程度明显小于在不适应的抗虫品种上的变化程度。共生菌还明显影响成虫体内丙氨酸氨基转移酶和天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶的活性。这些结果证明体内共生菌的数量和质量在褐飞虱对水稻致害性的变化中发挥了重要作用。     

不同虫源和致害性的褐飞虱体内共生菌的种群动态

通过对不同地理种群和致害性的褐飞虱体内共生菌,在高温和抗性水稻品种作用下的种群动态研究表明,在正常湿度下褐飞虱体内共生菌的数量随若虫的生长发育而增加,5龄若虫期是共生菌增长的关键期;同一种群的褐飞虱秋季共生菌数量明显高于夏季。广西田间种群的短翅雌虫体内的共生菌数量显高于浙江省的杭州和龙游种群,经高温处理后,3个生物开共生菌数量均显减少,但其子代共生菌的数量在正常温度下马上恢复,与未经高温处理的褐飞虱共生菌数量基本相同,取食抗性品种的生物型1和田间种群的褐飞虱体内的共生菌数量均明显减少,取食抗性品种的第2代的共生菌又均比第1代少。这说明高温对共生菌的影响是暂的,而抗性品种的对共生菌的作用与褐飞虱种群对品种的适应性有关。     

不同地理种群褐飞虱体内共生酵母菌的个体大小及数量差异

褐飞虱腹部脂肪体内普遍存在共生酵母菌,该类共生菌在褐飞虱的生理代谢和营养利用等方面起着重要作用。采用冷冻切片技术结合显微摄像系统观察法测定不同地理种群褐飞虱体内共生酵母菌的个体大小和数量。试验结果表明,不同地理种群褐飞虱雌(雄)成虫体内共生菌的个体大小和数量差异显著,依次为:对照种群>广西种群>浙江种群>福建种群。结合虫体内脂肪和糖元含量的分析得出,褐飞虱体内共生酵母菌的长、宽度和数量与脂肪和糖元含量显著正相关。文章从共生酵母菌的角度解释了不同地理种群褐飞虱致害性变异的内在原因,并推测,迁飞过程所导致的褐飞虱体内脂肪和糖元的消耗影响了该类共生菌的数量和质量,并最终导致褐飞虱对抗性品种水稻的致害性减弱。     

芽孢杆菌的引入对褐飞虱微生物群和生长发育的影响

【目的】明确褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens体内可培养共生细菌的种类，探索其中芽孢杆菌类共生菌对褐飞虱微生物群和生长发育的影响。【方法】通过离体培养的方法，从褐飞虱两种不同致害性种群(TN1敏感种群和IR56高致害种群)中分离可培养共生细菌。通过16S rDNA测序对获得的可培养共生菌进行鉴定，在此基础上利用原位杂交研究了共生细菌在褐飞虱体内的分布。利用人工饲料添加抗生素和回补共生细菌的方式，研究了减菌和回补芽孢杆菌的处理对褐飞虱生长发育以及共生菌丰度的影响。比较了通过饲喂和显微注射对芽孢杆菌引入的影响，考察了芽孢杆菌的定殖与褐飞虱TN1种群致害性之间的相关性。【结果】利用离体培养法从褐飞虱中获得了15株不同的共生细菌，其中包括2株源于IR56高致害种群的芽孢杆菌类共生细菌BPH-S36和BPH-S33。原位杂交结果表明共生细菌在褐飞虱成虫唾液腺、肠道、脂肪体和雌虫内生殖器中均有分布，而在雄虫内生殖器中鲜有分布。体内共生细菌对褐飞虱的生长发育至关重要，共生细菌的减少导致褐飞虱存活率在第3和6天时显著下降，而回补共生芽孢杆菌BPH-S36或BPH-S33可使其存活率在第6天时显...     

褐飞虱体内共生菌多样性研究进展

褐飞虱体内存在大量的共生菌,这些共生菌不但具有种类多样性,同时在对寄主的功能上也存在多样性。目前利用分子生物学手段以及高通量测序技术鉴定得到的测序丰度大于0.1%的共生真菌和共生细菌种类分属19和53个不同的属。由于技术的局限性和共生菌难以离体培养的特性,仍有相当部分共生菌分类地位尚未明确。共生菌在褐飞虱的生长、发育、繁殖、营养代谢、抗性变异以及免疫功能等生命活动中起着至关重要的作用,种类丰富的共生菌发挥着不同的功能。共生真菌主要参与固醇类物质和必需氨基酸的合成,而共生细菌则主要参与维生素的合成。共生菌在褐飞虱致害性变异、抗药性发展以及对宿主的繁殖等方面也都产生了重要的影响,但是具体的分子机制尚未明确。本文针对褐飞虱体内共生菌多样性研究概况进行综述,并对今后的研究侧重点提出了建议,后续研究可以聚焦于: (1)共生菌种类的鉴定;(2)特定、单一种类共生菌的功能;(3)共生菌在褐飞虱体内各组织间的扩散途径、扩散种类和调控机制;(4)以共生菌为靶标进行褐飞虱的防治等。     

三个褐飞虱寄主种群对氨基酸需求的分化(英文)

取分别在水稻品种TN1 (常用感虫对照 )、Mudgo(含Bph1 )或ASD7(含bph2 )上连续饲养 3 0代以上的3个褐飞虱Nilaparvatalugens寄主种群 ,分别饲养于 2 0种氨基酸总量与配比不同的全纯人工饲料上 ,以羽化率、短翅率、若虫历期以及初羽化成虫体重为指标对不同种群的氨基酸需求进行了比较。发现不同褐飞虱种群随氨基酸营养条件的改变有明显不同的表现 ,其中Mudgo种群最容易受到氨基酸营养条件的影响 ,而TN1种群所受影响最小。抗虫品种ASD7和Mudgo上的两褐飞虱种群所需的最佳氨基酸总浓度 (分别为 4 0 %～ 4 8%、4 0 % )高于TN1种群 (2 4%～ 3 2 % ) ,同时 ,前两种群对必需氨基酸浓度的变化较TN1种群敏感。这些结果表明 ,不同褐飞虱寄主种群对饲料氨基酸的需求存在明显的分化 ,推测氨基酸可能是抗虫水稻品种胁迫褐飞虱致害性变异的一种重要机制。     

褐飞虱体内Arsenophonus、Wolbachia、Spiroplasma和Cardinium四种次生共生菌感染分析

【目的】Arsenophonus、Wolbachia、Spiroplasma和Cardinium是广泛分布于昆虫体内的次生共生菌,能对寄主昆虫的生殖和发育生理产生影响,明确不同地理种群褐飞虱体内4种共生菌的感染和系统发育关系可为利用共生菌防治害虫提供技术依据。【方法】利用Arsenophonus特异性23S rRNA基因引物,Wolbachia、Spiroplasma和Cardinium各自的16S rRNA基因引物PCR检测广西10个地市、海南海口及上海、江苏南京、湖南长沙共14个地理种群褐飞虱雌、雄虫体内共生菌感染情况,并对扩增到的基因片段进行测序、构建系统发育树。【结果】不同地区2014年和2015年褐飞虱体内Arsenophonus感染率最高的分别为河池种群(30%)和长沙种群(20%)、PWolbachia感染率最高为河池种群(20%)和南京种群(30%),而Spiroplasma和Cardinium在褐飞虱各种群内均未检测到。序列比对和发育分析表明,褐飞虱体内Arsenophonus与同翅目昆虫白蜡虫Ericerus pela Chavannes体内感染的该菌关系最近;而感染Wolbachia菌的系统发育分析表明,除海南种群有一个个体感染Wolbachia菌A群外,其余种群感染的全部为B群;同时在所有感染两类共生菌的个体中并未发现共感染现象。【结论】不同地理种群褐飞虱感染Arsenophonus和Wolbachia两类共生菌的感染率并不一致;总体上褐飞虱雌虫Wolbachia感染率要高于雄虫,褐飞虱体内感染的两类共生菌与其它昆虫体内的共生菌序列高度一致或类似,且在所有检测的地理种群中均未发现有Spiroplasma和Cardinium感染。     

稻飞虱酵母类胞内共生菌的组织学研究进展

褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens体内酵母类共生菌在褐飞虱生长发育和繁殖中起着重要作用,并影响着褐飞虱对寄主植物的致害性变异。该文系统总结了国内外已有的研究成果,讨论了褐飞虱共生菌的分类地位、形态特征、在寄主发育中的功能、侵染途径等,提出了开展褐飞虱生物型形成过程中体内共生菌变异的研究建议,以便利用共生菌来监测田间不同生物型褐飞虱的发生情况,最终实现控菌防虫和对不同生物型的准确预测。     

三种稻飞虱体内类酵母共生菌18S rDNA和 ITS 5.8S rDNA序列克隆及进化分析

为研究水稻3种主要害虫灰飞虱Laodelphax striatellus、 褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens和白背飞虱Sogatella furcifera体内类酵母共生菌（yeast-like symbiotes, YLS）的种属地位及与寄主的进化关系, 测定了其体内YLS的18S rDNA及ITS-5.8S rDNA的全长序列。基于3种稻飞虱体内YLS的18S rDNA序列比对表明, 褐飞虱YLS和白背飞虱YLS的一致性比其与灰飞虱YLS的高（褐飞虱YLS和白背飞虱YLS为98.91%, 灰飞虱YLS和褐飞虱YLS为95.74%, 灰飞虱YLS和白背飞虱YLS为96.02%）, 而基于ITS-5.8S rDNA序列比对, 灰飞虱YLS和白背飞虱YLS的一致性比其与褐飞虱YLS的要高（白背飞虱YLS和灰飞虱YLS为99.57%, 灰飞虱YLS和褐飞虱YLS为91.91%, 白背飞虱YLS和褐飞虱YLS为90.46%）。基于真菌18S rDNA和ITS-5.8S rDNA的系统发育树均表明, 3种稻飞虱体内YLS与其他已知真菌进化关系较远。本研究证实了昆虫真菌类共生菌与寄主形成了长期的进化关系, 从而形成了不同于已知真菌的分类地位。     

Injection of essential amino acids substitutes for bacterial supply in aposymbiotic pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

The symbiotic bacteria Buchnera contribute to the nutrition of pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, through the provision of essential amino acids which are lacking in the diet. However, chemically defined diets, containing nutritionally adequate amounts of essential amino acids, fail to rescue aposymbiotic aphids, in which the bacteria have been disrupted with antibiotics. In this study the injection of a mixture of essential amino acids into the haemocoel of aposymbiotic aphids was shown to alleviate, at least partially, the impact of symbiont loss. Specifically, the total amino acid content in the tissues of aposymbiotic aphids was reduced by approximately 40% to levels comparable with symbiotic insects, and there was a 1.7-fold increase in the number of embryos, suggesting that the availability of essential amino acids promotes aphid protein synthesis by rejuvenating the free amino acid pool of aposymbiotic aphids. In addition, a similar effect on the total amino acid content was observed when phenylalanine alone, but not glutamine, lysine or tryptophan, was injected into the haemocoel of aposymbiotic aphids, and there was also a significant increase in the number of embryos following injection of phenylalanine or tryptophan alone. The impact of amino acid injection on the embryo complement of aposymbiotic aphids was limited to an increase in the number of embryos, with no increase in basal embryo size. It is proposed that older embryos may rely on their own complement of symbiotic bacteria for essential amino acid provisioning. Taken together, the data highlight the importance of bacterial provisioning of essential amino acids, particularly the aromatic amino acids, in the intact symbiosis.     

Die Rolle der hefeartigen Symbionten von Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera,Anobiidae) im Proteinmetabolismus ihrer Wirte

Zusammenfassung 1. Aufzuchtversuche an Lasioderma serricorne in Diäten mit 17 Protein- und 2 Hefepräparaten als Proteinquellen zeigten die Überlegenheit normaler Larven über aposymbiontische. 2. Entsprechende Befunde erzielten wir mit Peptonpräparaten und Caseinhydrolysaten; zum Teil vermochten sich aposymbiontisohe Larven nicht zu entwickeln. 3. In Diäten mit Gelatine wuchsen normale Larven langsam, aposymbiontische überhaupt nicht. Tryptophan verbesserte das Wachstum der ersteren und ermöglichte letzteren eine langsame Entwicklung; Histidin und Methionin blieben praktisch wirkungslos. 4. In einer Diät mit Caseinhydrolysat als Proteinquelle und Zusatz von Tryptophan in verschiedenen Konzentrationen lag das Optimum für normale Larven bei 0,4%, das für aposymbiontische bei 0,8%; 0,2 und 0,1% wurden von letzteren nicht vertragen, während normale Tiere auch in tryptophanfreien Diäten eine langsame Entwicklung zeigten. 5. Die Möglichkeit, ein künstlich hergestelltes Aminosäuregemisch als Proteinquelle zu bieten, wurde geprüft. 6. Ein Mangel nicht essentieller Aminosäuren blieb bei normalen und aposymbiontisohen Larven ohne Wirkung. Das Fehlen der essentiellen war für letztere letal, die Entwicklung normaler Tiere war mehr oder weniger stark verzögert. 7. Der Zusatz eines mit Methanol und Wasser erschöpfend extrahierten Hefepräparates hatte in Diäten mit Aminosäuregemischen als Proteinquellen Wuchsstoffwirkung; eine Zufütterung durch Hitze abgetöteter Symbionten war — in geringerem Maße — ebenfalls wirksam. 8. Die Symbionten sind in der Lage, Sulfate und Cystin als S-Quellen zur Methioninsynthese heranzuziehen, der Bedarf der Wirte wird jedoch nur teilweise gedeckt. 9. Die Befunde werden im Hinblick auf die Funktion der Symbionten diskutiert.

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The role of yeastlike symbiotes of Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera, Anobiidae) in the protein metabolism of their hostsI. Growth of normal and aposymbiotic larvae in diets with proteins, protein derivates and amino acid mixtures as nitrogen sources

Summary 1. Rearing experiments with Lasioderma serricorne in diets containing 17 proteins and 2 yeast preparations as protein sources proved the superiority of normal larvae to aposymbiotic ones. 2. Similar results were obtained with peptones and casein hydrolysates; in some of these diets aposymbiotic larvae were unable to develop. 3. In diets with gelatine as protein source the development of normal larvae was greatly retarded, that of aposymbiotic ceased completely. An addition of tryptophane enabled the latter to develop slowly and improved growth of the former; histidine and methionine were ineffective. 4. In a diet containing a casein hydrolysate as protein source the optimum concentration of added tryptophane was found to be 0,4% for normal, 0,8% for aposymbiotic larvae. Concentrations of 0.2% and less were insufficient for the latter, while normal ones were able to grow slowly also in tryptophane-free diets. 5. Growth conditions in a diet containing an artificial mixture of 19 amino acids were studied. 6. A lack of single not essential amino acids did not influence both normal and aposymbiotic larvae. That of essential ones was letal for the latter and delayed growth of the former to different degrees. The symbiotic fungi must therefore be able to furnish amino acids to their hosts. 7. A yeast preparation thoroughly extracted with methanol and water showed a growth promoting effect in diets containing complete amino acid mixtures as protein sources; an addition of artificially cultivated symbiotic fungi killed by heat showed the same effect to a lower degree. 8. The symbiotes are able to use anorganic and cystine sulphur for methionine synthesis. This amino acid is furnished to the hosts in a degree not fully covering their requirement. 9. The results are discussed with regard to the function of symbiotic organisms in phytophagous insects.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. H. Kühlwein, Botanisches Institut der Universität Karlsruhe, und Herrn Prof. Dr. K. Steffen, Pharmakognostisches Institut der Technischen Universität Braunschweig, sei für stetes Interesse und großzügige Förderung unserer Untersuchungen bestens gedankt. Der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft danke ich für finanzielle Unterstützung.     

On the functional significance of symbiotic microorganisms in the Homoptera: a comparative study of Acyrthosiphon pisum and Nilaparvata lugens

All phloem‐feeding Homoptera possess symbiotic microorganisms. Although the phylogenetic position and anatomical location of the micro‐ organisms differ, the underlying theme of the symbiosis is the same; the microorganisms improve the nutritional quality of the diet through the provision of essential amino acids. The symbiosis has been well documented in aphids, but little information is available from other homopteran groups. The impact of the loss of bacterial symbionts in the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and eukaryotic yeast‐like symbionts in the Asian rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens Stål was examined in parallel. The weight and relative growth rate of aphids and planthoppers was significantly reduced by symbiont loss, and characteristic features of aposymbiotic pea aphids, so‐called ‘metabolic signatures’, were, for the first time, observed in aposymbiotic N. lugens. For example, the amount of protein per unit fresh weight was reduced by 26 and 10%, and the free amino acid levels increased 1.8‐ and 1.4‐fold, in aposymbiotic A. pisum and N. lugens, respectively. In addition, the concentration of the amino acid glutamine was elevated in the tissues of aposymbiotic insects. The data are discussed in the context of our current understanding of the nutritional role of the symbiosis and the mechanisms of nitrogen metabolism in the two insect species. It is concluded that the metabolic adjustments of the insects to symbiont loss are broadly equivalent.     

Development responses of symbiotic and aposymbiotic weevils Sitophilus oryzae L. (Coleoptera,curculionidae) to a diet supplemented with aromatic amino acids

Developmental times of symbiotic and aposymbiotic strains of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae were compared, in response to changes in concentration of phenylalanine or tyrosine in whole wheat flour pellets. Aposymbiotic insects were shown to require more aromatic amino acids than symbiotic insects, since a very low supply (0.1%) resulted in faster growth (11%). Incorporation results of [³H]-tyrosine during the larval and pupal stages indicated that total tyrosine intake was lower in aposymbiotic insects, but the incorporation into the cuticle of both strains did not significantly differ. It is suggested that the slower growth rate of weevils without symbiotes is due, in part, to a less efficient utilization of exogenous tyrosine (in the food) and to a lack of endogenous tyrosine (supplied by the symbiotes).     

The etiological agent of cytoplasmic incompatibility in Culex pipiens

All individuals of Culex pipiens (wide sense) which have been examined were infected with Wolbachia pipientis. Larvae reared in tetracycline were freed of these symbiotes and remained free (aposymbiotic) in future generations. When males were freed of their symbiotes, they no longer displayed incompatibility. Aposymbiotic males were compatible with all females, whether infected or not. Aposymbiotic females, on the other hand, laid fertile eggs after mating with aposymbiotic males, but not after mating with normal males. Most eggs laid by aposymbiotic females after mating with normal males showed no development at all, even though the females had been inseminated.     

脱共生作用对黑豆蚜氨基酸代谢的影响(英文)

为了解共生菌对黑豆蚜蛋白质、氨基酸代谢的影响 ,用利福平处理黑豆蚜以除去其细胞内共生细菌 ,产生脱共生蚜虫。结果表明 ,被脱去共生菌的蚜虫与未经抗生素处理的正常蚜虫相比 ,7日龄时 ,脱共生蚜虫每毫克鲜重的总蛋白含量降低了 2 9% ,每毫克鲜重的游离氨基酸含量提高了 17%。对黑豆蚜取食的蚕豆苗韧皮部组织中必需氨基酸所占的比例进行分析后发现 ,蚕豆苗韧皮部组织中的必需氨基酸含量仅占 2 0 % ,而有共生菌的黑豆蚜组织中必需氨基酸已达到 4 4% ,脱共生后降低到 37% ,这些结果证明了黑豆蚜的胞内共生菌为其寄主提供了部分必需氨基酸。通过对游离氨基酸组成的分析发现 ,在测定的 17种氨基酸中 ,必需氨基酸中的苏氨酸在共生蚜虫中所占的比例为 2 1 6 % ,在脱共生蚜虫中仅为 16 7%。同样 ,非必需氨基酸中的酪氨酸和丝氨酸 ,在共生蚜虫中分别占总游离氨基酸的 8 9%和 5 6 % ,而在脱共生蚜虫中却分别升高到 2 1 1%和 13 6 %。这些结果表明 ,各种氨基酸比例的失调 ,造成了脱共生蚜虫蛋白质合成受阻和部分游离氨基酸的积累 ,并因此导致蚜虫发育和繁殖的失调。     

THE ROLE OF BACTERIAL SYMBIONTS IN AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF BLACK BEAN APHIDS

To evaluate the role of bacterial symbionts (Buchnera spp.) in the black bean aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch), the aphids were treated with the antibiotic, rifampicin, to eliminate their intracellular symbiotic bacteria. Analysis of protein and amino acid concentration in 7‐day‐old of aposymbiotic aphids showed that the total protein content per mg fresh weight was significantly reduced by 29%, but free amino acid titers were increased by 17%. The ratio of the essential amino acids was in general only around 20% essential amino acids in phloem sap of broad bean, whereas it was 44% and 37% in symbiotic and aposymbiotic aphids, respectively, suggesting that the composition of the free amino acids was unbalanced. For example, the essential amino acid, threonine represented 21.6% of essential amino acids in symbiotic aphids, but it was only 16.7% in aposymbiotic aphids. Likewise, two nonessential amino acids, tyrosine and serine, represented 8.9% and 5.6% of total amino acids in symbiontic aphids, respectively, but they enhanced to 21.1% and 13.6% in aposymbiotic aphids. It seems likely that the elevated free amino acid concentration in aposymbiotic aphids was caused by the limited protein anabolism as the result of the unbalanced amino acid composition.     

Impact of proteins and saccharides on mass production of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae) and its predator Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Proteins and saccharides are the two most important nutrients of artificial insect diets. In this study, additional protein or saccharide sources were added to the diet, and their impact on the population increase of both the prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae Schrank (Acari: Acaridae) and the predator Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was investigated. T. putrescentiae population increased by 319, 317 and 180 times within six weeks, when yeast powder, glucose or sugar was added to the basic wheat bran diet (diet mass: additive mass 10:3), respectively. However, T. putrescentiae population increased by only 70 times when reared on the basic diet. All three types of nutrients resulted in increased soluble saccharide level of mixed stages T. putrescentiae. Significant increase of soluble protein level was observed when yeast powder was added. When fed on T. putrescentiae reared on yeast powder, glucose or sugar added diets, the developmental duration of N. barkeri was shortened by 23, 23 and 33%, and the daily fecundity increased by 40, 20 and 27%, respectively. The proportion of N. barkeri female offspring was 64% when fed with T. putrescentiae reared on wheat bran, increased to 70% when yeast powder was added, and decreased to 59% and 58% when glucose and sugar was added, respectively. The commercial packaging requirement of N. barkeri is 80 mites per g. It generally takes 40 days from N. barkeri inoculation to reach this requirement, but this period was dramatically shortened to 20, 25 and 24 days when yeast powder, sugar and glucose were added to the diet of T. putrescentiae, respectively.     

Additive and interactive effects of nutrient classes on longevity, reproduction, and diet consumption in the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni)

Insect lifespan is often closely linked to diet, and diet manipulations have been central to studies of ageing. Recent research has found that lifespan for some flies is maximised on a very low yeast diet, but once all yeast is removed, lifespan drops precipitously. Although effects of yeast availability on lifespan are commonly interpreted in terms of protein, yeast is a complex mix of nutrients and provides a rich source of vitamins, minerals and sterols. Elucidating which components of yeast are involved in this lifespan drop provides insights into more specific nutritional requirements and also provides a test for the commonplace interpretation of yeast in terms of protein. To this end, we fed Queensland fruit flies (Bactrocera tryoni) one of eight experimental diets that differed in the nutrient group(s) found in yeast that were added to sucrose: none, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, cholesterol, vitamin+mineral+cholesterol (VMC), vitamin+mineral+cholesterol+amino acids (VMCA), and yeast. We measured survival rates and egg production in single sex and mixed sex cages, as well as nutrient intake of individual flies. We found that the addition of minerals increased lifespan of both male and female flies housed in single sex cages by decreasing baseline mortality. The addition of just amino acids decreased lifespan in female flies; however, when combined with other nutrient groups found in yeast, amino acids increased lifespan by decreasing both baseline mortality and age-specific mortality. Flies on the yeast and VMCA diets were the only ones to show significant egg production. We conclude that the drop in lifespan observed when all yeast is removed is explained by missing micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and cholesterol) as well as the absence of protein in females, whereas minerals alone can explain the pattern for males. These results indicate a need for caution when interpreting effects of dietary yeast as effects of protein.