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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #380764
Research Project: Insect Control and Resistance Management in Corn, Cotton, Sorghum, Soybean, and Sweet Potato, and Alternative Approaches to Tarnished Plant Bug Control in the Southern United States

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: UV radiation increases mortality and decreases the antioxidant activity in a tephritid fly

Author
item CUI, HONGYING - China Agricultural University
item ZENG, YIYING - China Agricultural University
item Reddy, Gadi V.P.
item GAO, FENG - China Agricultural University
item LI, ZHIHONG - China Agricultural University
item ZHAO, ZIHUA - China Agricultural University

Submitted to: Food and Energy Security
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2021
Publication Date: 5/25/2021
Citation: Cui, H., Zeng, Y., Reddy, G.V., Gao, F., Li, Z., Zhao, Z. 2021. UV radiation increases mortality and decreases the antioxidant activity in a tephritid fly. Food and Energy Security. 10(2). Article e297. https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.297.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.297

Interpretive Summary: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is a major environmental stress factor for many organisms and is known to exert a wide range of hazardous effects. The direct effects of UV radiation on insect performance, developmental physiology, and biochemistry have been considered in earlier research. The purpose of this study is to gain insights regarding the molecular mechanisms of antioxidant enzymes on tephritid fruit fly performance in response to the oxidative stress caused by UV radiation. We have shown that UV radiation disturbs the functional activity of antioxidant enzymes, resulting in decreased tephritid fruit fly performance. This indicates that UV radiation is a threat to this species. Findings highlight the potential development of clean and safe pest control techniques and provide important information relating to artificial UV radiation exposure hazards. The use of artificial UV radiation might therefore present a promising non-chemical measure for reducing B. dorsalis populations and insect integrated pest management.

Technical Abstract: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been widely used to monitor insects and conduct surface sterilizations at 365 nm and 254 nm wavelengths, respectively. The global increase in the use of UV light has developed into an environmental stress factor and concerns have been raised over non-target biotic impacts. We examined the influences of three UV radiation wavelengths (365 nm, 308 nm, and 254 nm) on the survival and antioxidant activity of a tephritid fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. The results reveal that UV radiation significantly increased B. dorsalis cohort mortality and duration period of pre-oviposition, while both UV-B and UV-C significantly decreased egg laying of female B. dorsalis. The activity of immune enzymes of B. dorsalis is irreversibly weakened by UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C radiation. Also, all three UVs significantly decreased B. dorsalis catalase (CAT) activity at both 0 h and 120 h post-exposure, while the activity of glutathione-S-transferases (GST) decreased at 120 h post-exposure. Both UV-B and UV-C radiation significantly decreased the activities of peroxidases (POD) and GST at 0 h post-exposure, while the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD) decreased at 0 h and 120 h post-exposure. However, POD activity recovered at 120 h post-exposure in UV-B and UV-C radiation. Our results imply that the loss of antioxidant activity persistently reduces B. dorsalis survival rates under UV radiation. The applications of artificial UV radiation is a promising non-chemical strategy for insect integrated pest management.