Big particles, best nutrition? Absorption and excretion of protein by Anastrepha obliqua larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

For purposes of mass-rearing fruit flies, nutrient intake through artificial diets is a challenge, artificial food content and processing should promote sufficient absorption and availability to ensure fly fitness. Bulking agents play an essential role in creating a quality diet, but its physical characteristics, such as particle size, may establish a better microenvironment for feeding and development. Currently, there is a lack of information about protein metabolism in mass-reared fruit flies. Therefore, we evaluated whether the particle size of the bulking agent affects the absorption and excretion of the proteins, as well as their effect on the life-history traits of Anastrepha obliqua. We determined the protein content of hemolymph and feces, as well as the presence of nitrogen end-products as indicators of their level of absorption in a diet elaborated with coarse and fine corn cob particles as a bulking agent. The bromatological composition showed that coarse particles increased the bioavailability and content of crude, digestible, and soluble protein for the diet and hemolymph protein of larvae alike. We found an inverse relationship between the protein content of the hemolymph and feces of the larvae. Ammonium was determined to be a product of the catabolism of proteins. Also, A. obliqua improved its development (yield and pupal weight) and fitness (adult emergence and flight ability) when larvae were reared on a coarse particle diet. In conclusion, a diet elaborated with a coarse bulking agent features increased protein bioavailability and nutritional quality, which, in turn, increases the life-history traits of A. obliqua.

Impact of high larval density on the performance of Anastrepha ludens: Competition or feeding facilitation?

“…Proteins were precipitated with 5 mL of TCA (10% w/v). Samples were then centrifuged for 10 min at 3000 g (17,752 rpm), and the pellet was dissolved in 1 mL of 1 M NaOH (Rincón‐Betancurt et al, 2020). Total protein was estimated according to the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) method.…”

“…It is critical because the diet not only involves what larvae feed on but also refers to the medium where larvae perform all their biological functions: ingestion, absorption, excretion, moulting, growth, etc. (Rincón‐Betancurt et al, 2020). This implies the regulation of temperature, moisture and the metabolization of ingredients.…”

Effect of larval nutrition on the hemolymph protein composition during metamorphosis of Anastrepha obliqua

“…1). From each type of particle size, three food matrices were randomly selected for the bromatological assays according to the method proposed by Rincón-Betancurt et al (2020). Three samples of 35 g were taken from each selected food matrix.…”

“…Previously, Rincón-Betancurt et al . (2020) suggested that the particle size of the bulking agent contributes to the regulation of the carbon: nitrogen ratio and food intake of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) larvae, affecting the absorption and excretion of protein. While the coconut fiber used as a bulking agent increases protein bioavailability in the larval diets (Aceituno-Medina et al ., 2019).…”

Larval nutritional effects on male and female survival and fecundity in Anastrepha ludens

“…The diet not only involves what larvae feed on but also refers to the environment where larvae perform all their biological functions: ingestion, absorption, excretion, molting, growth, etc. Thus, the larval diet is ‘everything’ (Rincón‐Betancurt et al., 2020).…”