Resveratrol modifies tephritid fruit fly response to nutritional and radiation stress

Authors: Chang, Chiou; Follett, Peter

Submitted to: International Journal of Radiation Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2011
Publication Date: 12/1/2011
Citation: Chang, C.L., Follett, P.A. 2012. Resveratrol modifies tephritid fruit fly response to nutritional and radiation stress. International Journal of Radiation Biology. 88(4):320-326.

Interpretive Summary: Bactrocera dorsalis and B. cucurbitae are two very important pest worldwide. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and commodity treatment are two very effective control methods used to control these pests. SIT is to use radiation to sterilize male fruit fly and then released to the field to compete with wild males for females in the field. The population will be reduced after generations. Commodity treatment is a post harvest treatment using radiation. Therefore, healthy male fruit flies after irradiation and cost-effective radiation post harvest treatment, are critical to the success of fruit fly control. Unfortunately, the fitness of fruit flies after radiation treatment and cost-effective radiation treatment have not been satisfactory. Resveratrol is a compound produced in many plants and fruits in response to environmental stress. Our objectives are 1) to investigate how resveratrol interacted with fruit fly nutrition; 2) to evaluate whether resveratrol can help maintain fitness after irradiation treatment; and 3) to measure whether the radiation treatment is beneficial through liquid form.

Technical Abstract: Resveratrol is a recently discovered compound. Three concentrations (50, 100, 200 µM) of resveratrol were evaluated against Bactrocera dorsalis and B. cucurbitae by incorporating resveratrol into fruit fly liquid larval diet under the following conditions: 1) with or without wheat germ oil (WGO) in the diet; 2) effects of radiation; 3) with wheat germ oil in the diet and radiation treatment; and 4) with/without wheat germ oil in the diet and no radiation treatment. The results showed that: 1) fruit fly performance dramatically affected by diet without WGO; 2) radiation significantly affects larval duration, adult emergence, adult fliers, egg production, and egg hatch in B. cucurbitae with adult emergence, adult fliers, and egg hatch in B. dorsalis; 3) adult emergence significantly rose in B. dorsalis when 100 µM resveratrol was added, but it did not occur in B. cucurbitae. Adult fliers from resveratrol treated diet were enhanced significantly by the concentration of 50, 100 and 200 µM of resveratrol in B. cucurbitae. Percentage of egg hatch was also increased by 50 µM, but not 100 or 200 µM resveratrol in the diet; 4) decreased egg hatch with the increase of resveratrol from WGO-devoided diet while no effect from WGO fortified diet. Egg production was significantly lower from the 200 µM than 0 or 100 µM of resveratrol from WGO fortified diet. It confirms our findings that 200 µM of resveratrol may be detrimental instead of beneficial.