The ZcVg3 Gene Regulates the Reproduction and Lifespan of Female Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) Mediated by Short-Term High Temperatures
by
Shuyan Yang
1,†, 
Sihua Peng
1,†,
Aqiang Wang
1,
Jingjing Jia
2,
Qianxing Wu
1,
Xiaofeng Yang
1 and
Shihao Zhou
1,*
1
Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Sanya 572022, China
2
Key Laboratory of Plant Disease and Pest Control of Hainan Province/Institute of Plant Protection, Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Research Center of Quality Safety and Standards for Agricultural Products of Hainan Academy of Agricultural Sciences), Haikou 571199, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Insects 2024, 15(7), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15070499
Submission received: 7 May 2024
/
Revised: 20 June 2024
/
Accepted: 28 June 2024
/
Published: 4 July 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring and Management of Invasive Insect Pests)
Simple Summary
Exposure to short-term high temperatures of 45 °C can enhance the development and reproduction of Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett). In this study, the function of the ZcVg3 gene in reproduction was studied by interfering with its expression via the injection of siRNA. The silencing of the ZcVg3 gene could affect the expression of other related genes. It also resulted in a significant reduction in egg production, spawning days, ovarian development and lifespan. The results suggest that the ZcVg3 gene plays a crucial role in pest reproduction under short-term high temperatures.
Abstract
Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a significant pest affecting fruit and vegetables in tropical and subtropical regions, and its development and reproduction are enhanced after exposure to short-term high-temperature stress at 45 °C. Vitellogenin (Vg) is an essential precursor of yolk protein formation in eggs and plays a vital role in the ovarian development of insects. Interfering with the Z. cucurbitae vitellogenin receptor (ZcVgR) gene in short-term high-temperature conditions decreases the fecundity of female adults, while the transcription level of the ZcVg3 gene increases. To elucidate the reproductive function of the ZcVg3 gene and the synergistic relationship among the ZcVgs genes under short-term high temperatures, this study injected siRNA to interfere with the ZcVg3 gene after subjecting Z. cucurbitae to a 1 h treatment at 45 °C and 25 °C. The expression of the ZcVg3 gene was suppressed, leading to the upregulation of the ZcVg1 and ZcVg2 genes, and the expression of the ZcVgR gene was initially decreased and then increased. Silencing the ZcVg3 gene after a 1 h treatment at 45 °C resulted in a reduction of approximately 84.7% and 75.9% in the fecundity and spawning days of female adults compared to the control. The development rate of their ovaries and the ovarian diameter significantly decreased, and their lifespan was reduced by 71%. The ZcVg3 gene plays a crucial role in the reproduction of Z. cucurbitae in short-term high-temperature conditions. The results of this study provide potential targets for the development of RNAi-based techniques for the control of Z. cucurbitae.
