Premium
Functional involvement of carotenoids in photoperiodic induction of diapause in the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae
Author(s) -
VEERMAN A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1980.tb00237.x
Subject(s) - biology , diapause , spider mite , tetranychus urticae , carotenoid , botany , xanthophyll , acari , mite , photoperiodism , mutant , zoology , larva , biochemistry , gene
. Using pigment mutants in which the uptake and oxidative metabolism of β‐carotene is disturbed, it could be shown that carotenoid pigments are functionally involved in the photoperiodic reaction in the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari; Prostigmata). Diapause responses appeared to be lowered in four albino mutants in comparison with the wild‐type strains from which they originated. Back‐crossing of the albino mutants to wild‐type for ten generations did not restore the capability to diapause. Selection for diapause for six generations also proved unsuccessful in increasing the diapause response of the albino strains. On the other hand, albino mites coming from hybrid (phenotypically wild‐type) mothers all diapaused normally. Apparently a maternal effect is responsible for the complete induction of diapause in albino mites. It is supposed that minimal amounts of carotenoids of maternal origin suffice in the embryo for the formation of a photopigment concerned in the photoperiodic induction of diapause. In albino mites the normal transmission of carotenoids via the egg is probably blocked. This transmission of pigment seems to be restored when the albinos originate from hybrid mothers, which possess the wild pigmentation.