Effects of thermoperiod on photoperiodic determination of larval diapause in Ostrinia nubilalis

Some effects of thermoperiods on the photoperiodic determination of larval diapause in the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis are reported. Thermoperiods and photoperiods were shown to interact to a highly significant degree in the induction of diapause. Diapause determination was found to be sensitive to the duration and temperature of the cryoscotophase of the thermophotoperiod; the thermophotophase characteristics exerted only minor influence. Cryoscotophase temperatures of 10°C or lower caused an unexpected increase in the apparent critical nightlength for diapause determination. A 0°C cryoscotophase effectively prevented the photoperiodic determination of diapause. Experimental investigation of the effects of 0°C cryoscotophases produced evidence that such low-temperature cryoscotophases may suppress the biological clock functions regulating the determination of diapause. Photoperiodic regimes in which 0°C pulses were inserted at successive points in 24-h cycle evoked responses suggesting that the early scotophase (saturation phase) was more strongly influenced by the low temperature pulse than was the later scotophase (scotonon); low temperature had little effect on the light-dependent processes (photonon) associated with the photophase.