Physiology of cold-acclimation in non-diapausing adults of Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera)

• Published in: European journal of entomology Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 181 - 187
• Main Authors: Slachta, M, Berkova, P, Kostal, V. (Akademie Ved, Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic). Entomologicky Ustav), Vambera, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 01.01.2002
• Subjects: acclimation; ACIDE GRAS INSATURE; ACIDE GRAS SATURE; ACIDOS GRASOS INSATURADOS; ACIDOS GRASOS SATURADOS; ADAPTACION; ADAPTATION; ADIPOSE TISSUE; CATION; CATIONES; CATIONS; cold hardiness; COLD TOLERANCE; CONSOMMATION D'OXYGENE; CONSUMO DE OXIGENO; CONTENIDO DE HUMEDAD; CONTENIDO DE MATERIA SECA; cryoprotectants; diapause; DRY MATTER CONTENT; ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE; FEMALES; FEMELLE; FOSFOLIPIDOS; HAEMOLYMPH; HEMBRA; HEMOLINFA; HEMOLYMPHE; MACHO; MALE; MALES; MOISTURE CONTENT; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; OSMOLALIDAD; OSMOLALITE; OSMOLALITY; OVA; OVIPOSICION; OVIPOSITION; OVULE; OVULO; OXYGEN CONSUMPTION; PHOSPHATIDE; PHOSPHOLIPIDS; POLIALCOHOLES; POLYOL; POLYOLS; PONTE; POTASIO; POTASSIUM; PYRRHOCORIS APTERUS; SATURATED FATTY ACIDS; SODIO; SODIUM; supercooling; TEJIDO ADIPOSO; TEMPERATURA AMBIENTAL; TEMPERATURE AMBIANTE; TENEUR EN EAU; TENEUR EN MATIERE SECHE; TISSU ADIPEUX; TOLERANCE AU FROID; TOLERANCIA AL FRIO; UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
• ISSN: 1210-5759; 1802-8829
• DOI: 10.14411/eje.2002.026

Chill tolerance (time of survival at -5 deg C) increased in non-diapausing adults of Pyrrhocoris apterus after a gradual, 4-week-long decrease in ambient temperature from 25 deg C to 0 deg C. The level of chill tolerance attained after cold-acclimation was considerably lower than that in similarly cold-acclimated diapausing adults. Some physiological changes accompanied the cold-acclimation. They were: a decreased oxygen consumption, loss of body water, an increased haemolymph osmolality, an increased proportion of phosphatidylethanolamines vs. a decreased proportion of phosphatidylethanolamines. Other physiological changes appeared to require the induction of diapause prior to cold-acclimation. They were: Down regulation of ice nucleators resulting in a lowering of the individual supercooling point, synthesis and accumulation of specific "winter" polyols, an increased proportion of palmitic acid in membrane phospholipids; and regulation of the concentrations of Na+ and K+ in the haemolymph. The potential contributions of these changes to the cold hardiness of P. apterus are discussed.