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Impacts of elevated CO 2 on B emisia tabaci infesting B t cotton and its parasitoid E ncarsia formosa
Author(s) -
Wang GuoHong,
Wang XueXia,
Sun YuCheng,
Ge Feng
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12214
Subject(s) - biology , fecundity , parasitoid , bt cotton , malvaceae , nymph , longevity , whitefly , botany , sex ratio , pest analysis , horticulture , toxicology , biological pest control , agronomy , population , genetics , demography , sociology
Abstract Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is expected to rise in the coming decades. Rising atmospheric CO 2 levels may alter plant‐insect‐parasitoid associations due to the indirect effects of CO 2 enrichment on phytochemicals important for herbivore and parasitoid nutrition. Tritrophic effects of elevated CO 2 on Bt cotton ( GK ‐12) and non‐transgenic (Simian‐3, or S3) cotton [ G ossypium hirsutum L . ( M alvaceae)], B emisia tabaci ( G ennadius) biotype B ( H emiptera: A leyrodidae), and its parasitoid E ncarsia formosa G ahan ( H ymenoptera: A phelinidae), were examined in open‐top chambers. Significantly, longer egg‐adult developmental duration and higher mortality of nymphs were observed under elevated CO 2 concentrations on both cotton cultivars during three successive generations. However, no significant differences were found in adult longevity, offspring sex ratio, and the number of eggs laid per female adult of B . tabaci fed on transgenic ( GK ‐12) or non‐transgenic cotton (S3) grown under elevated CO 2 . Abundance of B . tabaci adults increased from 10 to 120 per plant and then decreased to 40 per plant through the growing season, but no significant differences in density occurred between CO 2 treatments and between cultivar treatments. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the developmental duration, parasitization rate, and adult emergence rate of E . formosa after parasitizing B . tabaci for three successive generations. Our results showed that the effects of transgenic Bt cotton did not significantly affect the development, survivorship, life span, or fecundity of B . tabaci and its parasitoids. Moreover, interactions between B . tabaci and E . formosa were not significantly affected by elevated CO 2 . These results suggest that the biological control of B . tabaci by E . formosa would not be influenced by transgenic Bt cotton and/or elevated CO 2 , indicating that the current risk management strategy regarding B . tabaci outbreaks and biocontrol by E . formosa will remain effective if the atmospheric CO 2 level continues to rise.